Writer's Note- You guys...thank you so much for your interest in this story, and for all your reviews. Please keep them coming, because every word is pure inspiration for me. I've gotten some PM's asking about the character 'Jade Price'...which doesn't surprise me because I have a lot of new readers. To those who have read or who are currently reading my other stories, you know the deal with her. Also, if you look at my profile, that explains it too. Otherwise, if you are are wondering about that character, please wither PM, or just look at my profile. Here's the latest update, and for the love of God, the Glee cast live is EPIC. I'm really not trying to rub it in that I've been crashing the tour, I just want my readers to understand that they have love for the right TV show, and the right people who make that show what it is. Love you all, please read and review :)
Quinn was sitting in the back office at Smashed. She wasn't getting the answers she wanted, and her level of frustration was overwhelming. After she had started crying her eyes out, Jade led her to the office, and had her sit down. She then let the room, saying she'd be back in a few minutes. Quinn sat there, on a couch, looking down at her camera screen. The photo she had taken of Rachel earlier that day, consuming her vision.
She is so beautiful.
Quinn couldn't take her eyes away from the photo, not if she tried.
That look in her eyes.
Quinn zoomed in on the picture, and focused on Rachel's perfect brown eyes.
She's still there. Rachel Berry is still in there, I know she is. I can see it, I know she's in there. Why are you hiding? Why won't you be you? Why can't I stop thinking about you?
Quinn's thoughts were interrupted by Jade's return. She shut the door behind her, and handed the blond an ice cold bottle of water.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome", said Jade, taking a seat in her desk chair."What's that picture?"
Quinn hesitated a moment, before she showed the girl the photo.
"Oh wow", said Jade, in almost a whisper.
"I took it today, when I ran into her. I'm not sure why but...when I saw her standing there like that, I just needed to capture it."
"I know the feeling", said Jade, as she flipped open a laptop computer that was on her desk. She clicked around for a minute, and finally found what she was searching for. "See?"
Quinn looked at the computer screen to see a photo of Rachel. She was sitting on what looked like a rooftop, looking out into the city below. She had almost the exact same facial expression that she had in Quinn's photo."Oh my God...where was this taken", asked Quinn, as she stood up and hovered over Jade's shoulder.
"It's on the rooftop of our building. We go up there a lot, it's super peaceful. That night...we had been talking about...a bunch of random things. And like...you know when you're having a talk with a person, and they say more than they mean to. So, you just kinda' let them talk and talk because you can't even believe the things that are coming out of their mouth", asked Jade. Quinn nodded, but she still hadn't taken her eyes away from the photo. "Well...that was one of those night. She was talking about how much she hated herself...how useless she felt, how sad she must seem to most people. It was breaking my heart, so to hide the fact that I was crying...I picked up my camera, and took the picture. She didn't even notice."
"Oh, you took this photo", asked Quinn, shocked.
"Mhm, I think it's one of the best one's I have ever taken. She's so perfect for photos, it's...Effing crazy."
"Jade, this is great, are you doing anything with your photos? Can I see more", asked Quinn. Jade smiled.
"Yeah, sure. But...we need to talk first", said Jade, a hint of worry in her voice. Quinn sat back down on the couch, and took a drink of water. She was expecting Jade to start talking, but when she looked up at her, Jade was looking at her as if she was waiting for her to say something.
"I thought you said...we needed to talk."
"We do. Well...actually, I meant you do."
Quinn just gave the girl a confused look.
"Listen, I wanna' be able to let you know some things. I really do, because it's like super obvious that you are struggling hard with this whole situation. But...I need you to talk to me, because I need to know that you really, honest to God, want to help Rachel."
"Everybody doubts me when it comes to her, and I'm so sick of it", spat Quinn.
"I get why you're sick of it but, Quinn, can you honestly blame anyone for doubting you", asked Jade, sincerely. Quinn studied the girl for a minute before answering. To anyone who didn't know the girl at all, she would appear to be a kind of rough. Silent judgment would reveal that she was trying her hardest to clash, and wanted people to think she could kick their ass. Obsessed with the color black, gaged ears, lip ring, Jade Price was a nightmare in most people's eyes. Quinn knew that, but she didn't agree with it. This girl was sweet, and even when she was saying things that might appear mean, or harsh to other people, her tone was one of concern. True concern, as if she was trying her hardest to understand. So when Quinn listened to Jade ask her, if she could blame anyone for their doubt, she didn't feel threatened.
"No. I don't blame anyone but myself. But, I just...don't understand why I feel like this, Jade. I don't get why she's having this effect on me, I mean it's out of nowhere. For as long as I've known her, I've treated her like shit, I know that. I really wish...I knew why. I really wish I could figure out why I get so shy around her now, why she makes me stomach hurt, why the Hell her situation breaks my damn heart."
"You really don't know", asked Jade.
"No, I don't...but it's driving me fucking crazy", said Quinn, tears streaming down her face. Jade stood from her desk chair, and sat down next to Quinn. She wrapped her into a soft, warm hug, and rubbed her back. The blond just cried, and cried into Jade's shoulder. She didn't even notice when Santana had cracked the office door open, and stood there watching as Jade tried her best to comfort her. Eventually, Santana walked in, and sat on the other side of Quinn.
"Q...everything is gonna' be fine, why are you so damn upset", she asked.
"I d-don't...know", she cried.
"Quinn, tell me something, okay? If Rachel was here, right now...like if she walked into this room right now, what would you say to her", asked Jade.
"Nothing, because I know she wouldn't even want to hear it."
"Alright, well let's say she didn't have a choice but to listen, what would you say", asked Jade.
"I'd tell her...that I...I'm sorry for treating her like crap for so long. That...I only did it because...I cared too much about what people thought. I'd admit that the only reason I picked on her all the time was because she seemed like a loser to me...but really I knew she wasn't a loser. I just got mad at her because she...wasn't just like me, and my friends", cried Quinn. The entire time she was talking, she never once noticed that Jade had her cellphone in her hand.
Jade was about to ask Quinn another question, but Santana started talking.
"Q...do you wanna' know what I would say to her?"
Quinn nodded.
"I'd tell her that I was sorry, for all the same reasons you are. That, if not for the fact that she freaked me out because she didn't have a Cheerio uniform on, and she dressed like a granny slash six year old...I might have actually gotten along with her", said Santana. Jade couldn't help but smile. She could tell just by looking at the Latina that she was being honest.
"Wow", she whispered.
"San, you have to apologize for making that voo-doo doll", said Quinn, as she sat up. Before looking at Santana, she gave Jade a grateful smile.
"I will. But...I may need a few drinks before hand", laughed Santana.
A few minutes, and a few random comments later, Puck opened the door, and poked his head in.
"Jade...Jonah's gonna' be here in like ten minutes. And...he really needs to talk to you."
"Wait, is he okay? What did he say when he called you", she asked.
"Trust me, you're gonna' wanna wait until he gets here", said Puck, and he shut the door.
"Fuck", groaned Jade, as she stood up.
"Is something going on with your brother", asked Santana.
"I dunno...he's been acting a little weird for a couple days...".
"Weird like...how", asked Quinn. Jade sighed, and looked back and forth from Quinn to Santana.
"I need you guys to tell me that you can be mature about this", she said.
"I can...but you might want to make Santana leave the room", said Quinn.
"Oh screw you...I can handle it. Spill...", laughed Santana.
"When is the last time either of you talked to Mercedes Jones?"
"Oh wow...", said Quinn, trying to think.
"Graduation", said Santana."She moved away from Lima like the day after, no joke."
"Yeah...she moved here. Her and my brother have been together for a few months now", said Jade.
"No way, really", asked Santana.
"Yeah, but for a couple weeks now, they've been super quiet. Doesn't even seem like they're together anymore. And, that really bothers me because when they're around each other, it's so cute. Something is going on with them, and I have no idea what it is. Jonah is usually pretty straight forward with me, he knows that he can talk to me about anything. Anyone I love can talk to me about anything, I love to be there. But...he's been so quiet."
"Uh, maybe I'm wrong but hasn't he always been quiet", asked Quinn."I'd say hi to him at church, and he's just get all shy."
"Yeah, but believe it or not he's been even quieter lately. That's how I know something really screwy is going on", said Jade.
"Well, I hope everything's okay", said Santana.
A bit later, Santana took Quinn home to relax so they could come back that night, and Jade had a very long chat with her brother.
At eight o'clock that night, the two girls returned to Smashed, which was jammed with people. They made their way over to the bar, but found there was no empty seats for them. Santana wasn't having it. She tapped on a random guys shoulder, and he turned around. After scanning her up and down, he smiled wide at her.
"Okay horn dog...first thing, you needs to stop lookin' at me like that, because is sooooo not gonna' happen. Second, if you were any kind of gentlemen, you get your ass up off this stool so me and my friend can sit down." Without saying a word, he stood up and grabbed the guy next to him. He pulled him, and smiled nervously back at Santana.
"Take a seat, both of you, I insist", he said.
"Thank you", said Quinn, and they sat down. The two guys hovered for a few seconds before Santana turned around, and looked at them.
"Oh, I'm sorry did it seem like we wanted to chat? No no no, you can both be gone now. Go on...run along boy", she said. They looked at other, and walked away.
"Wow S...you scared them a little I think", laughed Quinn.
"Good."
Quinn looked around, behind the bar. There were four people tending, none of which were Jade. She frowned, and started looking around the rest of the place. She didn't see Rachel anywhere, and she was sad. She knew that the diva didn't want to talk to her, but seeing her would have made Quinn happy. After her and Santana had gotten some drinks, they left the bar area and started to wander around the place. Meeting new people, and talking to a bunch of regulars. Quinn, the whole time, keeping an eye out for Rachel, and Jade. After about thirty minutes of them wandering, the music stopped, and Jade appeared on stage. Santana was noticed her right away. She thought she looked so cute, even thought it was beyond obvious that she was upset, and had been crying recently. Once other people started to notice Jade was standing on stage, they started to quiet down. Once all attention was on the stage, Jade took the microphone from the stand, and started to speak.
"Hey everybody, what's going on, my name is Jade", she said, and people cheered and clapped."It's one of those night, everybody. One of those night where people are in pain, people are confused. What do we do here when that happens?"
"Sing", a bunch of people yelled. Jade smiled slightly.
'Yeah, that's right we sing. And, sometimes we get super personal, even knowing that the consequences could be pretty Effing bad. Well, tonight it's a risk some of us are taking. Who knows my brother, DJ Jonah Price?" People clapped and cheered again.
"Well, him and his girlfriend are going through something, and they wanna' come out here and express it. Now I know people judge all the time, that's for sure. I have faith in a lot of you, so I know that my brother, and my friends will be respected on some level when they step onto this stage. But...those of you who choose to judge...please do it silently, because these people are going through enough, and they are just...reaching out. Please help me, in welcoming my brother Jonah Price, and my friends Mercedes Jones, and Rachel Berry, to the stage."
Once Jade was finished talking, Rachel, Mercedes and Jonah walked onto the stage. All three of them looking just as upset as Jade looked.
"Oh my God...", said Santana, looking at Mercedes.
"Yeah, she looks devastated", said Quinn, sympathetically.
Jade hugged all three of them, and handed the microphone to Rachel.
"Thank you so much Jade", said Rachel into the microphone. She looked down at Mercedes, who had slummed down onto the ground. She walked to her, and knelt down behind her.
"This is my friend, her name is Mercedes Jones. She wants to express something tonight, but she's too upset to actually song. So...I will be her voice right now.", said the tiny girl, as she wrapped one arm around the darker girl, that sat sadly in front of her. Rachel looked to the DJ booth, where Puck was standing, and she nodded at him. Once the music started, Jonah stepped to the front of the stage, and took a microphone from one of the stands.
"My name is Jonah Price, I think most of you know me. I just wanna' point out that these lyrics don't match out situation to the tee. But, they're close enough, so please just listen. Please."
Jonah-
Please accept my apologies, wonder what would have been
Would you've been a little angel or an angel of sin?
Tom-boy running around, hanging with all the guys.
Or a little tough boy with beautiful brown eyes?
I payed for the murder before they determined the sex
Choosing our life over your life meant your death
And you never got'a chance to even open your eyes
Sometimes I wonder as a fetus if you fought for your life?
Would you have been a little genius in love with math?
Would you have played in your school clothes and made me mad?
Would you have been a little rapper like your papa da Piper?
Would you have made me quit smokin' by finding one of my lighters?
I wonder about your skin tone and shape of your nose?
And the way you would have laughed and talked fast or slow?
Think about it every year, so I picked up a pen
Happy birthday, love you whoever you woulda been
Happy birthday...
Rachel-
what I thought was a dream...
Jonah-
(make a wish)
Rachel-
Was as real as it seemed.
Jonah-
(happy birthday)
Rachel-
What I thought was a dream...
Jonah-
(make a wish)
Rachel-
Was as real as it seemed.
I made a mistake!
God, how noble is she...Thought Quinn,to herself. She's getting Mercedes words out. Rachel isn't selfish, how could I ever have thought she was.
Jonah-
I've got a million excuses to why you died
Bet the people got their own reasons for homicide
Who's to say it woulda worked, and who's to say it wouldn't have?
I was young and strugglin' but old enough to be your dad
The fear of being my father has never disappeared
Pondering frequently while I'm sippin' on my beer
My vision of a family was artificial and fake
So when it came time to create I made a mistake
Now you've got a little brother maybe he's really you?
Maybe you really forgave us knowin' we was confused?
Maybe every time that he smiles it's you proudly knowin' that your father's doin' the right thing now?
I never tell a woman what to do with her body
But if she don't love children then we can't party
Think about it every year, so I picked up a pen
Happy birthday, love you whoever you woulda been
Happy birthday...
Rachel-
what I thought was a dream...
Jonah-
(make a wish)
Rachel-
Was as real as it seemed.
Jonah-
(happy birthday)
Rachel-
What I thought was a dream...
Jonah-
(make a wish)
Rachel-
Was as real as it seemed.
I made a mistake!
As the song went on, Quinn looked to Mercedes. All the girl could do on stage was cry, and the former Cheerio felt for her fellow Glee Club member. It was obvious that she had gotten an abortion as her and Jonah were feeling terrible about it. She started thinking about Beth, and how bad she would have felt if she had gotten an abortion. But her eyes soon rested on Rachel once again, and Quinn was lost for the rest of the song.
Jonah-
And from the heavens to the womb to the heavens again
From the endin' to the endin', never got to begin
Maybe one day we could meet face to face?
In a place without time and space
Happy birthday...
From the heavens to the womb to the heavens again
From the endin' to the endin', never got to begin
Maybe one day we could meet face to face?
In a place without time and space
Happy birthday...
Rachel-
what I thought was a dream...
Jonah-
(make a wish)
Rachel-
Was as real as it seemed.
Jonah-
(happy birthday)
Rachel-
What I thought was a dream...
Jonah-
(make a wish)
Rachel-
Was as real as it seemed.
I made a mistake!
When the song ended, surprisingly enough, the crowd was in an uproar.
"Thank you", said Jonah into the microphone before placing back on the stand He then walked to Mercedes and very gently pulled her up from the ground. He hugged her, and the noise started to die down. Rachel just slipped away behind stage, and let Mercedes and Jonah have a minute. Soon after witnessing one of the those depressing and sad things she had ever seen, Quinn stepped outside for some air. Right as she walked out in front of the bar, she saw Rachel disappear around the corner into an alley. She debated for just a few seconds before following the tiny girl's path, and rounding the corner. Rachel had a cigarette in her hand, and was just about to light when Quinn came into her vision.
"Rachel...what the Hell...are you trying to ruin your voice", snapped Quinn, as she snatched the cigarette, and threw to the ground. She stepped on it, and made sure it was flat before she lifted her foot.
"Quinn...", said Rachel, calmly, closing her eyes."Get away from me...if I want to have a cigarette I can, and there isn't one damn thing you can do about it."
"That is disgusting, Rachel...it's bad enough Santana smokes sometimes, I don't need another friend doing it too.
"Who said I was your friend? Just get away, Quinn...please", said Rachel. The poor thing was on the verge of tears, but Quinn wouldn't back down. She stepped closer to Rachel and looked right into her eyes. Rachel took a deep breath, and stumbled a little. Quinn smelled like apples, and sugar. The tiny girl had always loved it. Her nerves were all over the place at that moment, but it was okay. Quinn Fabray was a drug that Rachel would never grow tired of, no matter how bad her addiction really was. Quinn still hadn't realized why, but the butterflies had hit her hard, again. Her lips were almost touching Rachel's, but she was comfortable. It felt right to her.
"Quinn...", whispered Rachel. But before she could utter another word, Quinn's lips were pressed against hers, and she couldn't breathe anymore. It only lasted a few seconds before Rachel pushed Quinn away, and slapped her, hard across the face.
"What the Hell do you think you're doing!"
"Oh...Oh no...oh God...Rachel I'm sorry, I am so sorry", cried Quinn.
"J-just...just leave me alone", said Rachel, before running from the alley.
"Holy shit...what...what did I just do?"