Day 1:
"What do you mean by you guys can't come back?" Quinn questioned, after snatching the phone from Rachel. Rachel frowned.
"Get them to turn it back." She demanded and her face turned into a scowl.
"God damnit, I'll pay for it!"
"Frankeenteen, I hope that you are aware your girlfriend is stuck with me in this damn Gay Town." She spited, anger slowly overwhelmed her.
"I'm not waiting till 8 days later. Hello? Hello? Damnit!" She threw the phone to Rachel, pissed off.
"What did he say?"
"He said the bus can only pick us up 8 days later, when they are on their way back. Because it's the festive season and all slots are booked."
"So we're stuck here?" Rachel swallowed her saliva, panic evident in her voice.
"Stuck without money, yes. Your boyfriend is an asshole." She groaned in annoyance.
Another lump was swallowed. "What are we gonna do?"
Quinn turned to Rachel and looked away. Rachel should stop giving her that look.
"Please don't sing again." She mumbled under her breath and Rachel swallowed a lump of fear together with her song.
They sat in silence, contemplating their next move. $200 will definitely not be enough to last for 8 days.
As though being struck, Rachel dug out the registration form from her pocket. She waved it infront of Quinn.
"This." She said, as a light bulb blinked furiously inside her. Quinn groaned again and slapped her hand away.
"Are you kidding me?"
"Quinn, listen to me. We need the money. Anyway, just treat this like acting. I could certainly use this experience for my further roles!" Rachel's voice was getting louder as she became more convinced than ever that this would be a good experience for her...them... Whatever. The excitement sparkled in her voice.
"God Berry, you do know we will have to touch each other right?"
"Well...If that's part of my role." Rachel bit her lips and dropped her gaze to the floor, suddenly apprehensive. Touching Quinn Fabray would be a challenge.
"No, I'm not touching you and that's final." Quinn ended the conversation and left no room for argument.
XOXOXOXOXO
Quinn had no idea how it happened.
She grumpily shot Rachel an annoyed glance. She beamed brightly at her which just made her more annoyed.
The lady took their registration form and grinned. "Hi, Quinn Fabray and Rachel Berry?"
Quinn Fabray and Rachel Berry. The two names that were never placed side by side. It even sounded strange to her.
Quinn Fabray and Rachel Berry.
Quinn Fabray and Rachel Berry.
Quinn Fabray and Rachel Berry.
Gosh, it sounded like some curse to her.
"Yes!"Rachel chirped and Quinn sighed under her breath. She shot Rachel another dirty look which was conveniently ignored again. Was she losing her touch? Quinn frowned slightly. Maybe she was being too soft to Rachel lately. She heaved a deep sigh.
Rachel was whining for hours about being broke and starving to death. And when she decided it was not working, she changed her tactic and started choosing songs and preparing her speech for her funeral. She guessed the last straw was when she tasked Quinn to present the speech.
She was so conned to it.
"So what's your team name?"
Rachel bit her lips and frowned. Team name...
"Quichel." She said and Quinn grimaced. What kind of name was that? Sounded like some kind of seashell. Hell, if she's joining this shit, she's going to at least be represented by a decent name.
"No, Faberry. Team Faberry." Rachel raised both her eyebrows. She was mildly surprised that Quinn had finally decided to break the silence.
"Team Faberry..." The girl wrote and smiled. "Awesome. How long have you guys been together?"
"2 years."
"1 year."
They replied simultaneously and the girl perked up an eyebrow. Rachel side glanced Quinn, feeling slightly annoyed. She already had her story planned out and 2 years was a good duration for any couple. Not too long yet not too short either.
"Well Baby Rach, I wasn't aware that we were together for so long."Quinn commented a tad too sweetly. Rachel almost overdosed in her sweetness. She shivered inside her.
"Quinnie, how could you forget the time where you were dedicating a love song to me during Glee? What's that song..?"She paused and knitted her brows as though in deep thoughts. "Ah... Without you. Although you cracked so badly at the high note that I was having weeks of nightmare after that, that memory was sweet." She laughed out and hooked her hand over Quinn's. Quinn tensed at her touch and balled her hands to stop herself from slapping Rachel's hand away.
"She's sweet isn't she?"She mouthed to the girl and Quinn felt her face turning red. The girl gave them an amused beam and Quinn had to clench her jaws to stop herself from cursing.
Rachel freaking Berry.
"Gosh yeah Baby Rach, I guess my memory is failing me. Because all I could remember was the time when you kneeled down wearing your revolting argyle sweater with an adorable smile pasted on your god damn face and practically begged me to be with you. "Quinn smirked, trying to contain the anger rising inside her. When she saw Rachel fluttered and almost slipped her hand off hers, she held on to it and patted her hand, all the while with an irritating grin on her face.
Revenge was so damn sweet.
"I...Quinnie, I wasn't kneeling. I was...was sitting. And it was a dare by Santana by the way, to see if you're really in love with me. I guess you were." Rachel rebutted, not bothering to hide her fury. She shot Quinn a glare. Both of them held on to their gazes, refused to back down in and surrender. Their exchange was interrupted by the girl's laughter and they scowled at her in synchrony.
"What's so funny?" They snapped and the girl only laughed harder, highly amused.
"Team Faberry, we'll see you in two days."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Rachel switched the bag of necessities which they had just bought from the Supermart from one hand to another. She was sure that her hands were going to ache tomorrow. She watched with indignation as Quinn whistled and skipped infront of her, hands as free as a bird.
"Hurry up Baby Rach."She chirped a little too happily and continued to skip infront of her. She swung the bag behind her and frowned. She will not ask Quinn Fabray for help. She will not!
She quickened her steps to match Quinn's and raised her head up high. She threw her a smug glance. Quinn frowned at her sudden speed and skipped even faster, leaving Rachel at the back. She smirked and swirled around a lamp post to face Rachel.
She shook her head in disapproval. "You got to hurry up Baby Rach."She called out before skipping away again. Rachel groaned with annoyance.
Screw that Fabray.
She switched the bag into another hand and practically ran to Quinn's side. She was just a step away from Quinn before she was knocked off her feet by a stranger, her bag of necessities scattered to the ground. Rachel winced in pain.
"Watch where you're going." The stranger shrugged and walked away. Rachel groaned, her head spinning from the impact. She sat up with her hand supporting her head. She felt tears forming in her eyes. "I will not cry. I will not."She murmured under her breath as the tears continued to cloud her vision against her will. She felt a bruise forming at her lower back and butt. She swallowed a lump in her throat. She's in pain! "Out here on my own..." She sang and sniffed, feeling more alone than ever.
"I'm sorry Miss."
She glanced up and was surprised to see the same stranger squatting beside her, a mixture of fear and guilt hanging on his face. His eyes darted fearfully to Quinn, who was standing beside him with her hands on her hips. She looked...offended.
"Her name is Rachel." She chided.
"I'm sorry Rachel."He coughed out and Rachel frowned at that scene. What just happened? Rachel stood up clumsily and the stranger reached out to offer his hand. "Keep your hands to yourself."Quinn snapped and pushed him away to hold on to Rachel. The stranger scrambled away. Rachel leaned on to Quinn and her face turning bright red and a warm feeling swirling inside. She limped for a few steps before she stopped, forgetting something. She turned around and was surprised that the items on the floor were already gone. "Quinn, the stuff..."She started before her mouth snapped shut. There, on Quinn's hand was the bag of necessities which she held on easily. When did all of that happen?
"You need to start thinking faster Rachel."
Rachel felt her heart skipped a beat at her name. No more Berry. No more fake annoying Baby Rach. A smile slowly emerging on her face as she felt Quinn tightened her grip around her. She was practically holding her.
Maybe, she really could be Quinn's friend now.
XOXOXOXOXOXO
Rachel's stomach growled loudly and her hand gripped her stomach in embarrassment. She gazed up slightly to Quinn and saw her biting her lips, trying hard not to laugh. She pouted. How many times must she be embarrassed infront of Quinn Fabray!
"Somebody is hungry..."Quinn said in a sing-song tune.
"It has been almost 5 hours 43 minutes since my last meal." Quinn laughed harder which made Rachel frowned and slapped her hand in irritation. "You're being annoying Quinn Fabray."
"I am aware that that is my job."She whistled and popped into a cafe, still holding on to Rachel. When they had settled down on an empty seat beside the door, Quinn scanned through the menu and perked an eyebrow.
"Do you have any vegan choices?"She asked the waiter. Rachel, who was sitting beside her, tilted her head towards her, wearing a look which she could not translate. "What?"She questioned, slightly flushed at the look. "I'm a vegan for the week."She tried to explain when she realised Rachel was still studying her with that look. "Christmas week and it's tradition."She continued, her throat muscles rippled as she swallowed. Fortunately for her, the waiter chose the right time to interrupt.
"Yes Madam, our vegan choices are at the back of the menu. Couple meals at 30% for this festive season." He beamed. Quinn and Rachel shared a knowing look. She apprehensively trailed her hand over Rachel's shoulder. Rachel's body tensed for a split second before she bent her elbow and their fingers reached up to Quinn's. The second time felt so much smoother.
"Can we have two of this please?"Rachel pointed to the menu and Quinn nodded with a small grin. The festive season did not seem so bad after all.
XOXOXOXOXO
Quinn frowned at Rachel's choices of clothes.
"Reindeer, again?"
Rachel pouted in offence. "Quinn, they are beautiful."She insisted and Quinn scowled. She grabbed the sweater from Rachel and threw it a corner in disgust.
"Rachel, they are awful like hell. You do understand I'll have to wear it too right? No way will I be caught dead wearing that awful thing."Quinn spited. Rachel heaved a sigh and folded her arms. "Quinn, we have been going on and on about this and it seems like we will never agree on anything." Quinn groaned.
They had been spending close to an hour trying to decide what to buy as they couldn't possibility wear what they had for 8 days. And since there would be 50% off couple clothing, they would have to compromise with each other's choices. But they had been going on and on disagreeing with each other that they were both exhausted and exasperated.
"Look, you looked amazing in jeans and a good fitting shirt. Like the time when we were performing Empire State of Mind. Or better yet, those sinful looking shorts or skirts to short off your legs. You do not need this awful argyle sweater or that nun-like knee-length skirt!" Quinn huffed out, oblivious that she had just indirectly complimented Rachel. Rachel widened her eyes in surprised. Had Quinn been observing her? She almost laughed out loud at how absurd that thought was. But when Quinn continued, she was almost certain she was.
"And seriously, stop wearing colours that are maroon or yellow or whatever. You looked wayyyyyyy better in white or blue or black. Something classy yet not too over the top. And for the sake of Christ, stop wearing anything argyle! God." Quinn ran her hand through her hair in frustration.
A moment of silence passed before Rachel spoke.
"You think I look good in jeans?" Rachel tucked a strand of hair behind her ears, feeling shy out of the sudden. Quinn blinked, trying to recall what she had just said. "Well..."She shrugged. "I'm saying you looked better in jeans. Anything but that awful sweater." She added with a scowl.
"Okay, we'll get jeans then."
Quinn raised an eyebrow. That's it? All she had to do was to say that she looked better in jeans? Damn, she should have said that earlier!
"And that blouse that we saw just now? That blouse that hugs your figure at the right place? That one which you said made your...er...breast looked way too big?"
Rachel nodded. Quinn scratched her head, puzzled. This new Rachel Berry was way easier to handle.
"We should really get you a cardigan as well. It's getting chilly these days..." Quinn added and Rachel nodded.
"And..."Quinn took a step closer towards Rachel. Rachel's body turned rigid as Quinn's fingers threaded through her hair. The paths of her fingers leaving tingling sensation at her sculpt. "...your hair looked nicer when it's not tucked back."She breath out and for unknown reason, Rachel felt her heartbeat quicken and a weird sensation pooling between her legs. She licked her lips nervously.
"There."Quinn took a step back and beamed awkwardly. "Let's finally do some shopping."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
When they had finally returned to their motel, it was near 10pm. Rachel and Quinn dropped their bags of items and tiredly dragged their body to the bed. They had spent $15 on food $10 on their necessities and another $50 on clothes. They were left with $195, including Rachel's $20 she had with her. Deducting another $50 for tomorrow deposit for the room, they were left with $145.
They really needed to start finding ways to make some money before the start of the competition.
As they tiredly lay on the bed, sleep almost overtake them until a loud scream jerked them awake.
"OH YESSSSSSSSSSS."
They turned to each other with widened eyes.
XOXOXOXOXOXO
Thanks for the feedback! I'll work on it. For all mistakes, please bear with me!
Keep the comments pouring in.
Song:
Irene Cara - Out here on my own