Seventh installment.
Rachel wasn't worried about her solo. She would obviously win the audition, how could she not? Mr. Shue was just entertaining the others, making them think they had a shot. Rachel also picked a song she was certain Quinn would enjoy, and by an artist the blonde has mentioned before, Lights.
The brunette could openly admit that she was quite enamored with Quinn, even more so than she ever was with Finn. Rachel was also convinced the boy only dated her because he appreciated the increase in attention. But when Finn realized he had to give in order to receive, he broke it off, and persuaded himself that he still loved Quinn. Quinn had given him more direction than anyone else, he hadn't ever needed to think outside of the box to please her.
Rachel held herself above this fact, proud of her high standards. Quinn managed to defy the impossible, too, achieving most everything the diva thought was key in a partner.
Quinn was absolutely stunning; Rachel felt she could stare in marvel at her features all day, sinking peacefully into depths of hazel, running her fingers through silky golden hair.
Quinn was also someone she could be interested in for extended periods of time, which was rare when she was with Finn. The two regularly discussed normal topics, music (Quinn enjoyed a variety of bands Rachel had never heard of), boys they'd both dated (Puck was a mistake on both parts), though, on occasion, Quinn would spill secrets that the smaller girl could hardly bear. Things involving her family life, or what it was like to give up her daughter. The deep, complex logic behind why The Lovely Bones was the blonde's favorite movie. What it felt like to be kicked from the inside. Rachel was never bored with Quinn.
Quinn had apologized for her past deeds. Finn ignored their past, where he had never antagonized Rachel, but hadn't stopped anyone else from doing it, either. The cheerleader expressed that she deeply regretted her actions and was willing to make up for them in any means possible. It was adorable, and brought Rachel to her next point.
Quinn was sweet. She put small notes in the starlet's locker throughout the day, some about things that happened in class, sometimes drawings, but mostly "I miss you." or a variation of that. The blonde gave her small smiles in the hallways, and played with her hair when they were together.
In addition, Rachel was confident Quinn's solo would be dedicated to her.
Quinn paced in the empty choir room, save for Rachel, Mercedes and Kurt.
She muttered to herself, "Oh God, what if I forget the words, what if-"
"Quinn!" Kurt snapped.
The blonde looked up in confusion, "Hmm?"
"Please calm yourself, you will do fine. Not better than me or Mercedes, but fine."
She was about to make a sharp remark in response, but a woman entered the room that she didn't recognize.
"Miss Holiday!" Kurt exclaimed, rushing to the teacher.
"Hi!" The woman smiled, "Is this your glee club?"
"Yeah," Santana called, walking in with the rest of the lot, "I'm Rachel Berry, number one supporter of Obnoxious Anonymous."
"Yeah!" Brittany piped up, "And I'm Quinn, her almost fuck-buddy!"
Quinn and Rachel both blushed heavily, and the rest of the club mentally quirked an eyebrow, then dismissed it. They'd noticed the tentative friendship between the two, nothing else. They figured Santana and Brittany were just messing with the girls.
After a silence, Brittany spoke again, "I'm also Mike Chang."
"Well," Holly broke, "You guys are doing solos. Is anyone prepared to go now?"
The students looked around awkwardly, waiting for one of their own to volunteer.
"Yes," Quinn huffed, "I'll go."
"Excellent," the teacher grinned, and took a seat on the risers.
Artie rolled over to his electric guitar, and started a warm-up scale.
"I'm pretty sure once you hear it, you'll know who it's for." Quinn breathed, and then nodded sharply at Artie, who started the intro.
Quinn smiled, and started her song.
"So many people gonna say that they want you,
Try to get you thinkin' they really care.
But there's nothing like the warmth of the one who has put in the time
and you know is gonna be there.
"Back and border when you know someone crossed it
Don't let nobody put you down, who you're with.
Take the pain or protecting your name, from the crutch to the cane to the high wire,"
She beamed, satisfied with her start, and belted out the chorus,
"I'm in love with a girl who knows me better,
fell for the woman just when I met her!
Took my sweet time when I was bitter,
Someone understands
And she knows how to treat a lady right,
give me that feeling every night!
Want to make love and I wanna fight,
Now someone understand me!"
"I'm in love with a girl,"
Sam and Artie harmonized, "I'm, in, love, with,"
"I'm in love with a girl."
"I'm, in, love, with,"
Quinn skipped up to the risers, clamped her hands on a seat, and sang to Mike.
"Out the many back doors and windows,
Through the valley of the love of the lost,
Is a hole that is cut through the souls, falling down from the thrones,
without needing any windows."
She skipped a riser, sitting next to Kurt, and poised herself to mirror his position.
"But you found inner peace for the moment,
The moment was over in time!
Then it's gone, the hit-and-run,
The dipless one has a short life."
She jumped up, prancing to where Rachel sat.
"I'm in love with a girl who knows me better,
Fell for the woman just when I met her,
Took my sweet time when I was bitter,
someone understands,"
The cheerleader pressed her forehead to Rachel's, and they sang in unison,
"And she knows how to treat a lady right,
Give me that feeling every night!"
Quinn made a point of swaying her hips,
"Want to make love and I wanna fight,
Now someone understand me!
I'm in love with a girl,"
"I'm, in, love, with!"
"I'm in love with a girl," Quinn drew out.
"I'm, in, love, with!"
She stood again, sauntered over to Artie, and took a seat on the piano bench next to him.
"Gonna tell you what to do to think you practice what you preach,
now I know, there's nothing we can't reach."
She closed her eyes, knitting her eyebrows,
"'Cause a heart can't erase, once it finds a place!
To be warm and welcome,
to be held in shelter!"
Bounding up, Quinn made a straight beeline for Rachel,
"I'm in love with a girl who knows me better,
Fell for the woman just when I met her!" She belted, standing Rachel up and twirling her around,
"Took my sweet time when I was bitter,
someone understands."
She skipped Rachel to the center of the room, linking their fingers and doing a small type of formal dance.
"And she knows how to treat a lady right,
Give me that feeling every night!" She twirled the girl once more,
"Want to make love and I wanna fight,
Now someone understand me!
"I'm in love with a girl,"
"I'm, in, love, with!" The club chanted, while Quinn placed her hands on Rachel's hips.
"I'm in love with a girl."
"I'm, in, love, with!"
"I'm in love with a girl, who knows me better,
Want to make love and I wanna fight,
Now someone understand me!"
The blonde waited in silence for any response, until the residents of the club erupted in approval.
Quinn's smile only grew when Rachel pecked her on the cheek.