Day 1:
Quinn counted the cash with a proud smirk on her face. Although they were chased off by the security after two hours of continuous singing and dancing, they had manage to collect a grand total of $300. More than enough to last them for the day.
"Quinn, we could have win the argument. They did not put up the sign that said we are not allowed to perform!" Rachel pouted, still indignant. "We have the absolute right to perform!" She puffed, annoyed that she could not finish her almost perfect rendition of Silent Night. Hmpf.
Quinn rolled her eyes. Rachel had been going on and on about this for the past 30 minutes and it was really getting on her nerves right now. "Berry, if you realized, we are causing major traffic disruption. They have the absolute right to chase us away AND sue us."
Rachel folded her arms and murmured under breath but did not continue.
The Christmas decorations around the streets were getting Rachel slightly excited though. She loved Christmas for so many reasons. An unexpected smile forming on her face. Even though she might have to spend this Christmas week with...
Her eyes darted to Quinn who was still wearing the proud smirk on her face and bit her lips.
...Not exactly somebody she thought she would be spending with, Christmas was all about giving thanks and forgiving and loving. Maybe, they could become friends. Besides, it's not like they would be spending the rest of the week with just the two of them. There would be the other Glee kids and...
Finn already had a plan on how they would be spending their Christmas in New York. She could no longer contain the excitement bubbling inside her at that thought. She hummed gleefully to the tune of "Santa Clause is coming to town". Quinn shot her a slight annoyance glare but remained silence. Yay for Rachel Berry.
"Excuse me young ladies." A elderly woman approached them with the kindest smile they had ever seen. She held up a paper and Rachel squeaked in delight. She grabbed Quinn's hand excitedly. "Oh my..." She exclaimed.
"Oh my god!" She squeaked again and was now looking at Quinn like Christmas had just arrived early. Her eyes were sparkled with tears and Quinn wondered why had she not notice how beautiful her eyes were before. She panted, trying to catch her breath.
"She's getting my signature!" Rachel grabbed the paper and her hand moved frantically around her pocket. "Pen, pen, I need pen." She chanted under her breath. Quinn rolled her eyes again. God, that Berry could get so dramatic sometimes.
"No I'm not." The woman said kindly and Rachel froze. "I mean, I do love your performance but I'm not getting an autograph." She added apologetically and Rachel's shoulders dropped to the ground. Quinn felt her heart dropped together too, as the sparkle in Rachel's eyes was replaced with disappointment. She awkwardly took the paper from Rachel.
"Project love?" She perked an eyebrow and the woman nodded excitedly.
"Yes! It's an annual competition in Gay Town for young lovers like you two!"
"Gay Town?"
"Lovers?"
They exclaimed in shock together.
The woman nodded, oblivious to the horror scribbled across their faces. "Yes!" She clapped excitedly.
Quinn and Rachel gazed into each other, jaws dropped and eyes widened.
"Madam, this is a mistake." Rachel shrugged awkwardly. Why was her face burning?
"Yes, absolutely. We are FAR from being lovers." Quinn added and dropped her gaze to the ground. This was so ridiculous.
The woman gave them her kindest grin and held both of their hands together. Quinn resisted the urge to retreat her hand.
"It's OK my dear." She said with kindness in her voice. "No one here is going to judge you. We are a Gay Town for Christ sake! Almost all of us are gay." She laughed. "You don't have to hide." She winked and just when Quinn and Rachel thought their jaws could not drop further, they did.
"You guys just reminded me of my younger self with my partner." She added with sad eyes. "But she's no longer here…" She let out a breath and walked away. Rachel and Quinn trailed their eyes behind the sloughing backview and their heart sank.
The backview of somebody who had love and lost.
"I'm so sorry…" Rachel cried out and the woman dismissed her with a wave.
When the backview disappeared around the corner, Quinn's eyes dropped to the registration form and laughed. "Lovers? What a joke." She murmured under her breath. She slapped the form back to Rachel's hand and strolled off.
They had $300 to tide through tonight. They did not need this stupid competition.
XOXOXOXOXOXO
Quinn pushed the door of the motel with Rachel following behind her. The bell chirped to announce their arrival.
The motel looked decent, although not grand. They could deal with that. A gay couple were making out at the corner of the hall and Quinn and Rachel looked away in discomfort. The words from the earlier encounter burning through their faces. Quinn cleared her throat and scanned through their pricelist. She frowned. $200 per night?
"Due to festive season." The receptionist shrugged lazily without lifting his eyes from his computer. Quinn puffed out a sigh. She was about to turn and leave when Rachel grabbed her hand and pointed to the notice beside her.
Couple will enjoy 50% off during this festive season!
They stared at each other. Surely they could be a "couple" for a day? Quinn shook her head in dismay. How could Rachel even consider that? Rachel frowned.
Desperate times call for desperate measures! Her brows knitted in exasperation.
We are not THAT desperate yet...Quinn mimicked her frown.
Rachel folded her arms. Her eyes widened and tilted slightly to the pricelist. Fabray, You sure?
She scowled unconsciously. $200 per night was about two third of their cash. Besides, there was still a possibility that they might need to stay here longer than expected... But pretending to be a couple with Rachel Berry? They did not have to touch each other... right?
Gosh, why was Rachel Berry looking at her with that... judgemental look?
She sighed and gazed away and Rachel smiled a triumph smile, proud to have won the silent argument.
She grinned to the receptionist. "We are…" She started and pointed awkwardly to Quinn and back to herself. She paused, searching for a more appropriate word.
"...together." Quinn breathed out. She still could not believe that she had agreed to this. This whole situation was getting absurd.
"As in…I'm her lady." Rachel emphasized and Quinn resisted the strong urge to stuck her eyes at the back of eyelid. The fire burning her skin. The receptionist raised his eyebrow in cautious. His eyes prying. Rachel swallowed her saliva in despair, feeling like his stares were going to penetrate their lies.
She laughed nervously and turned to Quinn, doing the only thing she knew how to do.
She sang.
"Cause I am your lady...And you are my man." She paused, realizing how wrong it sounded. "Cause I am your lady...And you are my woma-." Quinn nudged her painfully at her ribs and she shut her mouth instantly.
Tension grew with each second and Rachel shifted uneasily under his gaze.
Quinn cleared her throat to break the moment and draped her hands over Rachel's shoulders awkwardly. Rachel tensed at her contact and tried to ignore the funny twinge in her stomach and the sudden flash of warmth all over her body. They flashed an awkward smile.
When the receptionist were still darting them with that damn look, Rachel bend her hand at her elbow and intertwined her fingers into Quinn's apprehensively. Quinn jumped slightly at that gesture. Both of them shifted uneasily and flashed what they hoped appeared to look like a smile. Quinn felt sweat trailing at the back of her neck.
The room was sure getting hot.
The receptionist shrugged again and turned back to his computer.
"A single Queen size bed I suppose? To feel the power of love?" He questioned. Rachel raised her brows, slightly impressed that he actually knew the title to the song she had just coughed out before the realization of what he had just said settled over her.
"NO!" Both of them screamed in union. Quinn darted a killer glare at Rachel which she chose to ignore. Fine, maybe that wasn't the perfect song to choose but she was nervous!
When the receptionist gazed up to them curiously, they puffed out a humourless laugh.
"I mean, we are still young…"
"We're planning to hold it till…you know…24"
"Yea yea totally. 24 is a good age."
The place was suddenly burning.
"Too bad, we only have 1 single Queen size bed room available." He said before turning back to his computer. Rachel and Quinn shared a glance."Festive season." He added. Damn this stupid gay town and damn the festive season.
Surely they could survive one night together? Desperate times... They sighed in synchrony.
Rachel cleared her throat. "In that case, can I have a room near to the toilet if there isn't any in the room?" The receptionist frowned in slight annoyance. "You know, ..er..my baby Quinne here can't hold her bladder quite well." She felt Quinn's eyes burning holes on her but she ignored. She did not plan to walk to the toilet in the middle of the night! Imagine all the possibilities of getting attacked! At the corner of Quinn's eyes, she saw the couple who were making out earlier now watching them in amusement. Her face turned into nine shades of red.
"Well...Can we also request to have our bedsheet and pillowcases to be changed daily as well?" Quinn injected. "My baby Rach here tends to drool in her sleep." She threw a smug look to Rachel and pasted a well-practiced fake grin on her beautiful face.
Rachel turned to her, horrified. "I do not!" Her blush deepened in fury. God, if this were to spread, what would happen to her career! Drooling and fame did not go well with each other!
Quinn shrugged in fake helplessness. "I think our cat was drowned by that. Just saying"
Before Rachel could argue, the receptionist interrupted them.
"Firstly Madams, welcome to Gay Town Motel. My name is Dude, you can call me Dude. Glad to be of service. I'm delighted to inform that your request for a single Queen sized bed for a night has been accepted. Toilet is included in the room and yes, room service is daily. This is your key and we need a 50% deposit for the room." He ended with a grin on his face. Quinn resisted the urge to correct him. They did not request for a single Queen sized bed.
They were literally forced to accept it.
Quinn pulled out a $50 and handed it to him. He grinned again. 'Thank you and have a nice day." And with that, he returned back to his computer as if he was never interrupted. Rachel and Quinn gazed at each other and eased away awkwardly to their room, with their hands still attached. Their legs tangled and Rachel surged forward. Quinn secured her roughly with her opposite hand. "God, Berry. Besides needing to learn what and when to sing, do you need to learn how to walk too?" She murmured under her breath.
"Quinn! Your leg tripped me. And did you not see how he was looking at me? I was nervous! That was my best shot." Rachel whispered in defense.
"Excuses."
And they bickered all the way to their room.
XOXOXOXOXOXO
A/N: Thanks for all the comments! It really motivates an author to continue and you guys are making me really excited to update it. Thank you! Keep them pouring please.
Mentioned:
Power of love - Celine Dione