Quinn'll be here in ten minutes.
Rachel and I are begrudgingly getting dressed. For once neither one of us actually wants to help, but we kind of feel obligated. We did sort of push this.
"Sweetheart?"
"Yeah, babe?" I respond as I pull my shorts on.
"Why are we so nice?" she sighs and plops down on the end of the bed.
"This one is totally on you," I say sitting down next her.
"Hey!"
"Well, I was a complete bitch before you. Now I'm just kind of a bitch," I say with a smile and a nudge to her shoulder.
"You know what? I love you this much," she says with a cute smirk and her thumb and forefinger about a half an inch apart from each other. My mouth goes wide with shock and she giggles, "times infinity."
"Oh, well that's a lot," I say through a smile and lean in to kiss her.
"How much do you love me?" she asks excitedly and then turns her body around so she's sitting cross legged, facing me.
"Hmm..." I hum as I turn to sit the exact same way she is, "How big is the universe?"
She scrunches up her face in thought, "It can't be measured. It's endless..." a smile pops onto my face thinking about how clever I am, "oh." She smiles and shakes her head, looking down at the space in between us. Looking back up she says, "That was a good one."
"I know," I say with a shrug.
"So modest," she rolls her eyes and then leans forward onto her knees to kiss me.
And the door bell.
I sigh and say, "I'll get it. Finish watching the movie. It's almost over."
"Okay, sweetheart," she says giving me a soft kiss. As I'm about to walk out the door she calls out, "Don't be mean."
"See, this nice thing? All on you," I scowl at her.
"Go let our friend in," she scowls back and then pushes play on the remote.
"Pfft... friend..." I mumble as I walk down the hallway to the front staircase. "Okay, nice," I remind myself before I turn the doorknob and pull the door open. Standing on the porch in front of me is a really stressed out Quinn Fabray. "Uhh... Hey Q."
"I knew it was a bad idea," she says as she pushes through me to get into the house.
"Please, come in."
She stops in her tracks and turns around, "Where's Rachel?"
What am I not good enough? Be nice... gross.
"Upstairs finishing up a movie," I answer as I close the door.
"Oh shit. I didn't like, interrupt anything, did I?" she asks seeming like she actually cares.
"Just movie cuddle time... of the naked variety," Q closes her eyes and shakes her head, "TMI?"
"A little, yeah... I was really hoping I could talk to both of you," Quinn admits, looking up to the ceiling as if she's going to will Rachel down with her thoughts.
"You can, just in a few minutes. The movie's almost over. Do you want anything in the meantime? Water... some tequila... a horse tranquilizer...?" I ask only half joking about the last two.
"Water's cool," Quinn answers not seeming to even care about the joke I've made.
"Okay-"
"Actually, do you think Rachel's dads have some whiskey?" Quinn asks, suddenly awake again.
Channeling Rachel a little bit, "While I won't support you trying to drink your problems away, I think Hiram has some Jameson downstairs in the cabinet. I don't think he'll notice if a shot is gone."
"They didn't put a lock on it after we killed their entire stock that night?" Quinn asks as we head to the basement.
"No, I think they just trust that Rachel learned her lesson. They're cool like that." I lead her down the stairs to the Berry's basement. I've only been down here a few times since the party. Despite it having a ridiculous amount of stuff in it, it doesn't get used very often. I have to search around the bar for a shot glass and then have to open a couple of doors to find where the alcohol is. I grab the green bottle that I'm looking for and make sure that there's enough in it that Hiram... or Leroy... really won't notice a shot's worth is missing.
"You aren't gonna have something?" Q asks after I put only the one shot glass down.
"Rachel's going to be mad enough that you're drinking, I don't really want it to be doubled."
"Ahh... point taken," she says, takes a deep breath and then throws back the shot I poured for her. She clenches her teeth after she swallows down the burn.
"I was going to ask you if you wanted a chaser," I say as I produce a Diet Pepsi from the mini fridge under the bar.
"Thanks," she simply responds and cracks open the can. She isn't drinking it though, she's really just staring blankly at the bar top and noticeably chewing on the corner of her lips.
"If you don't drink that, Rachel is definitely going to smell the alcohol," I say nudging the can closer towards her hand.
"What?" Q asks, snapping out of her daze.
"Come on, maybe the movie's over," I say with all the empathy for her that I'm somehow developing, despite not knowing exactly what happened tonight.
She nods and pushes herself off of the bar, taking the can of soda with her. I motion for her to go up the stairs first and before I can even see the top of the stairs I hear, "I was wondering where you two were. Hey, Quinn."
"Hey, Rach," Quinn says halfheartedly. Her panic turned to depression really quick. Maybe whiskey wasn't the best idea...
Clearly sensing Quinn's mood, but also, clearly not thinking, Rachel grabs Quinn's wrist and pulls her into a hug. Quinn is stiff and Rachel has definitely noticed the alcohol on her breath. She gives me a look. I mouth "sorry" and instantly she closes her eyes and shakes her head slightly in forgiveness.
"So," Rachel starts releasing Quinn from the awkward hug, "you are going to tell us what happened tonight that has put you in this melancholy state, right?"
I see Quinn's shoulders shrug and then watch as she walks to a stool at the island. An eye roll is definitely in order, "Quinn, I didn't invite you over here so you can just sit here looking like a My Chemical Romance song."
I look over to Rachel, expecting her not to be pleased with me. Actually, she's stifling a laugh. She mouths, "Bad," to me through a smile and then pulls out the stool closest to Quinn. I'm the last to sit down, choosing a stool across the island. One person on the verge of invading Quinn's personal bubble is probably more than enough.
And there it goes. Slowly, Rachel inches her hand closer and closer to Quinn's. When they finally meet, Q's blank gaze shifts to them.
"It was perfect," Quinn mumbles just loud enough that I can decipher the words. Oh, it speaks. There's a slight smile on her face as she continues looking at hers and Rachel's hands.
"What... was perfect, Q?" I ask slowly. Is it weird that I'm sensing something... not right? Like, really not right.
"The date. RJ, which is for Rebecca Jean, by the way," she shrugs her shoulders in a laugh then says, "I joked that RJ is a much better idea. We talked the entire time, even when we had food in front of us."
"So the date went well...?" I ask, now confused as to why we're here. There has to be more to this story.
Looking back to the middle of the island, Quinn continues, "She's really great. She's sweet and funny and smart. She even paid," she smiles again and this time, turns her head to look at Rachel.
"Well, it is proper date etiquette for the person who requested the date, to pay for the date," Rachel says shooting me a glance and then winking.
Wait, I paid for our first date, right? Yeah, I did.
"We walked out together and she asked me if she could walk me to my car. I was in this like, happy cloud... it was weird, but it felt..."
"Right?" I finish her sentence without really thinking about it.
"Yeah. So right, that I didn't shy away when her hand slipped into mine. We got to my car and just kind of stood there... holding hands and smiling..." her smile slips away slowly, turning into the blank stare again, that is, until it turns into an angry stare, "and then that sound."
Rachel and I look at each other with questioning glances. I think we figure out what sound Q's talking about at relatively the same time.
A camera.
"A fucking camera," Quinn starts back up again, "he got at least six more shots before we really realized what was happening and RJ chased him away."
"Who?" Rachel asks.
"Jewfro," I answer with my fists clenched in front of me. Who else could it have possibly been?
"He yelled out 'Best summer vacation ever' while he was running away from RJ like the little pussy he is," Quinn says, rhythmically tapping her finger tips on the counter top.
"Quinn, if all he has are pictures, why are so worried? RJ looks like a boy," Rachel asks attempting to calm the again panicking Quinn down.
"She doesn't sound like one," Quinn mumbles.
I am fuming, by the way. Jacob Fuckhead Ben-Israel has no idea what he has gotten himself into. Fists still clenched, I slowly get up from the stool, walk around the island and start walking out of the kitchen.
"San, where are you going?" Rachel asks slowly.
"To exterminate vermin," I mutter as I'm stepping into the living room.
"Santana, you can't," Rachel calls out as she gets up from her stool. At least that's what it sounds like, I haven't looked back. I'm actually almost to the door. I'll just unclench a fist for a moment to grab my keys off of the table near the door-
"Santana Cristina Maria Lopez, you get your ass back in this kitchen right now!"
No she didn't.
With my hand on the door knob, I've been completely stopped, torn between following through with my threat and getting my ass back in the kitchen.
I don't want to, but I'm going back to the kitchen. Rachel will know how unhappy I am about it.
"What are you thinking, Santana? You can't just go to a person's house and beat him up! No matter how terrible that person is," Rachel shouts at me from the island. She's actually mad at me. This isn't the sexy mad that gets me all bothered. It's actually a little scary.
But see, here's the thing, "I promised Quinn that we'd have her back! That means not letting that Fuck spread her business all over the internet! I can't pound his rat-tastic face in from here!"
"You aren't pounding anyone's face-"
"He needs to be stopped, Rachel! Don't act like you haven't tried to stop him before," for Quinn, let me remind everyone... well, I'm sure it was actually for Finn, but Quinn would have benefited.
"I didn't resort to violence-"
"You gave him a pair of your underwear-"
"I bought a pair and gave it to him. And if I'd remembered to take the tag off it would have worked," she finishes in a mumble and rolls her eyes at herself.
Oh come on! We're in an argument! She's not allowed to be cute like that!
In a much calmer tone than before, "Rach, we have to stop him. Quinn, help me out here."
"Knowing him, we're probably too late," she says with this part angry, part heart-broken tone.
"Why don't we check?" Rachel comes in with some logic.
"Oh," Quinn and I say unison.
"I'll be right back," Rachel says, getting to the stairs before she even finishes the sentence.
"What were you planning on doing, anyways?" Quinn asks as I grab a stool to bring over to her.
"I don't know, I was just going to wing it. Maybe I'd just go all Lima Heights on his ass and steal his camera and his computer," I shrug as I sit down.
"As much as I appreciate the sentiment, I'm not sure I'd feel okay if you wound up in juvie for me," Quinn says in a way that makes it at least seem sincere.
"Well, Puck made it seem like it was heaven on Earth-"
"He was lying."
Quinn and I both turn around towards the familiar voice. Lo and behold, there's Brittany standing in the doorway between kitchen and the living room.
"He told Artie that he was scared shitless while he was there. You know, you guys should really lock your door. Anyone could just walk in here," she says walking over to us and taking the stool that Rachel was sitting in. "Hmm... I'm guessing your date with that cute girl from the Lima Bean wasn't the best," Britt says, giving Quinn's forearm one of those friend rubs.
"How did you...?"
"My fault," I confess before Quinn can be falsely worried about the bottom feeder's blog.
"Not entirely! I tricked her into telling me," Britt says clearly amused with herself.
"Of course you did," Quinn says with the first smile I've seen since she was talking about the good part of the date.
"Sorry this took so long... oh! Hi, Brittany," Rachel says noticing Brittany for the first time once she gets to the bottom of the stairs. She walks over and around the island, squeezing in between Quinn and me, placing her pink, completely stickered out lap top down on the counter top.
"Are we watching funny cat videos on YouTube?" Britt asks just after Rachel flips open the top.
"Not right now," I whisper to my left.
"Then what are we... Jewfro," Brittany interrupts herself through a scowl when his foul doucherrifc blog pops up on the screen. "Wait, what are you looking for?"
Quinn sighs and leans forward to look beyond Rachel and me, "The pictures that he took."
"Oh. So what? It's not like anyone pays attention to this thing," Brittany says getting up and walking to the fridge.
"Everyone pays attention to this shit Britt," I say watching her search for something normal.
"But it's stupid," she says looking away from the fridge and then back.
"We know it is Brittany, but the other imbeciles that we go to school with don't and Quinn is worried. Rightfully so, she's been through enough," Rachel says looking from Brittany all the way over to Quinn on her right. I can't see Rachel's face, but Quinn's smiling again. It isn't really a happy smile, it's like, a relieved smile.
We've been looking through this thing for a while now and nothing has popped up. If ass-face had posted the pictures or made one of his obnoxious videos, it would have been the first thing we saw. The first thing on here was a post about Dave Karofsky transferring schools and that was from like, yesterday.
"He hasn't posted anything yet," I say taking control of the abandoned track pad and moving back to the first page. I'll just refresh it for good measure. Yup just what I thought! The Karofsky news.
"Maybe he's waiting until tomorrow to post it?" Rachel says with excitement.
"I still don't know what you're so worried about, Q. You're awesome! You really shouldn't let what other people think about you get to you so much," Brittany says with the Reeses Puffs box in her hand. When did she go into the pantry?
"It isn't that easy, Britt," Quinn sighs.
"Yeah it is! People say I'm stupid all the time. I don't care. They don't matter. Besides, they all wish they had my fresh dance skills... except for Mike, he has his own... he doesn't call me stupid anyways," Brittany says shoving a hand full of peanut butter and chocolate puffs into her mouth.
"Well, looks like this crisis is averted-"
"For now," I interrupt Rachel.
Rachel rolls her eyes and backs out from between Q and me, "I should really go to bed. I have to get up for camp in the morning. You two are more than welcome to stay here tonight if you don't feel like driving home," she says looking between Britt and Q.
"Ooo! Sleepover! We haven't had one of those in forever!" Britt jumps up, dropping a few puffs on the floor, "oops."
I have to admit, that does sound like a good idea. And the last Unholy Trinity hang out sesh didn't go so bad. I'm probs going to fall asleep soon anyways. Long day.
"There's enough room for us all on the sectional," I offer up and Rachel smiles at me even though she's not going to be joining us. Oh, she's happy with what I just said because I agreed to the sleepover that involves Quinn. Right.
"Umm... have any good movies?" Quinn asks hesitantly.
"Well-"
"That aren't musicals," Quinn interrupts Rachel.
"The Berry's have quite the impressive collection," I say as I reach out for Rachel's hand. When I get ahold of it, I pull her into me, "I do get a goodnight kiss even though we aren't sleeping in the same room, right?"
"Of course you do," she says placing her hands on my cheeks then pulling me into a kiss, "I don't think I'd be able to sleep without one."
"Don't say 'ew,' Q. You think it's totally cute and can't wait to get your sweet lady kisses on," Brittany says pulling Quinn off the stool and leading her to the living room, "We'll pick out a movie while you get Quinn some pajamas. Goodnight, Rachel!"
"Night Brittany. Goodnight, Quinn."
"Night, Rachel," Quinn manages to say before Brittany can pull her out of the kitchen.
Rachel kisses my forehead and urges me to stand up. She leads me all the way to her bedroom where I do wish I was sleeping, but I guess one night sleeping apart is okay. I wait on her bed while she changes into the basketball shorts and t-shirt that she stole from me a while ago and stay there until she crawls onto her side of the bed.
"I hope you have fun," she says as she gets under the blankets.
"I hope you sleep okay without my awesome body underneath you," I say with my most obnoxious, cockiest smile.
Looking over to her right, she says, "I think I'll be fine."
I turn to see what she's looking and see my body pillow sticking out of her closet. How did I not notice that before? I chuckle a little and then get up to get it for her.
"Thanks, sweetheart," she says and then maneuvers the pillow under the blankets with her.
Idea! "You know, I think I'd sleep a lot better tonight if I had something of yours to snuggle with," I say knowing full well that the only thing that could possibly be is her pillow.
She rolls her eyes at me, but still sits up and removes her pillow from its spot to give it to me.
"I love you," I say, taking the pillow from her and bending down to kiss her.
"I love you, too," she yawns out and then sleepily says, "Now get out of here. I needs to get my beauty sleep on."
"Oh you think you're funny!" She is. That was so cute.
"I am," she says as she closes her eyes and hugs my body pillow into her.
"Good night, gorgeous."
"Good night, San."
Have I mentioned how much I love her? Probably. I'll spare you.
Okay, p-jams for Q and then downstairs.
"So, did you guys like, talk about it when she came back," I hear Britt ask Quinn as I'm walking through the kitchen.
Oh good. Just in time for the part of the story I haven't heard.
"Umm... not really? I was pretty stressed out at that point. I'm sure she realized that I'm not really out," I see Quinn look down and shake her head, "Is that like, a deal breaker for some people?"
Hmmm... "Well, when Rach and I started going out, neither one of us were out," I say tossing Q the pajamas I brought for her.
"That's different. You could hide together and then you came out together... sort of. Okay, well, I guess you sort of let it out while you were raging away at Finn, but Rach didn't really seem to have problem with it," Brittany says in all her wisdom.
"And besides," Quinn adds, "Now that you're out, would you want to be with someone that was still in the closet? Wouldn't it kind of be like going back in?"
Quinn looks all kinds of worried right now. I'm not sure I want to answer her. It wouldn't be helpful. There's no way I'd date someone who was in the closet, especially not with what I'm going through with my mother. Of all people, I think I know how hard it is to come out... or to be dragged out somehow. While I'm all for helping Q out with all of this, I don't think I'd want to crawl back in the closet just to be with someone.
My opinion doesn't really matter though, because I can't speak for RJ.
I have a better idea than answering her question, "We're getting up early tomorrow."
"That's not the answer to my question."
"Shhh! She has a plan," Brittany says blindly hitting Quinn's arm.
"Tomorrow we accomplish two things: 1) we get those pictures from Jewfro and 2) we find out RJ's answer to that question," I say as I lie down, placing my head on and wrapping my arms around Rachel's pillow.
"How-"
"Don't ask questions."
"You should just try to sleep, Q," Brittany says and also lies down.
The last thing I see before I close my eyes is Quinn rolling her own.
A/N: I just want to apologize for being so slow with my updates on this story. The next couple are going to be a lot quicker than the ones in the past have been. I know this one was kind of short, but for some reason I always have trouble with chapter 13 in all of my stories. Hope you enjoyed this! Let me know!