Day 2:
Quinn threw her hands up in frustration. Damn this stubborn and annoying Rachel Berry! GOD!
"Berry, this song has many layers and it will surely capture the attention of the judges!"
Rachel folded her arms across her chest, refused to back down. Afterall, who knows performing more than she does?
"Quinn, firstly, this is a sad song which was included in my funeral playlist by the way. Secondly, it's for couples who are together for 30 years and above, not for teenagers like us."
Quinn rolled her eyes.
"Love me is an all-time classic which spells no age differences. Besides, all love comes in some degree of sadness."She rebutted, wearing the same look as Rachel.
Rachel let out a sigh of frustration.
"The judges want to hear joy, not sadness!" She swung her hands up to prove her point.
Quinn imitated her sigh and her hands moved to her hips. She lifted her chest higher, trying to intimidate the petite brunette.
"This song does not only comprise of sadness, Berry. Look at the lyrics! There's love, gratitude, promises. This song singlehandedly beat all the other suggestions you had."She huffed.
Rachel widened her eyes in anger. How could she compare her song with all her Broadway classic!
"Quinn! The song I had in mind is a classic as well! Broadway classic, mind you. You have yet to listen to it to make your judgement! I am offended by how close-minded you are!"
Their breathing quickened. Once again, they were breathing down each other neck on an issue which both parties had no intention to back off. The competition was less than 24 hours away and they had yet to come to a conclusion as to what performance would give them a better edge in winning.
And they so desperately needed to win this shit.
Quinn rolled her eyes and felt a tingle of competitiveness awaken. She would not let Rachel win this time. She squared her shoulders and allowed the competitiveness in her cloud her sense.
Whatever it takes.
"Berry, aren't you being yourself again? Self-absorbed, Miss-know-it-all... It would really help if you could just stop being so freaking annoying. That's the reason why Finn always ended up running back to me!"
Fine, personal attack was alittle below the belt but Quinn really wanted to win this argument.
Rachel looked like she had just been slapped across her face. The pain and hurt on Rachel's face made Quinn instantly want to take them all back and shoved them back down her throat. The anger hugging the atmosphere quickly evolved into pain and hurt. Rachel's lips quivered, her eyes red from trying to suppress the sob. She averted her gaze to the floor and Quinn almost reached out to her in regret before Rachel spun around and headed out of the room.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Quinn grabbed onto Rachel's hand. She turned around and pulled her hand away from her grip. The prick of pain was unexpected. Quinn swallowed the lump in her throat.
"I didn't mean that way."She said softly, hoping Rachel would take that as an apology and let it go. But when Rachel looked up into her eyes, Quinn felt another prick of heartache at how much pain were screaming through them. She stopped breathing altogether. The bitter taste at the back of her tongue made her grimace in displeasure. That must be the taste of guilt.
"Didn't mean it that way doesn't mean it will hurt any lesser."Rachel snapped, her voice cold and cutting. Quinn looked away, the apology at the tip of her tongue refused to roll out.
They stood there, consumed in silence.
It was then footsteps from the afar invaded them. Dude appeared from the corner with a broom on his hand, surprised to see the blonde and brunette standing apart from each other, obviously in the mid of a fight.
He eyed them curiously but decided to ignore.
"Can we talk about this later?"Quinn whispered, her eyes studying Dude who she was sure was eavesdropping their conversation.
"Why should I Quinn? Why should I listen? Especially after what you had just said?" Rachel's voice broke as she tried to swallow another lump of pain and...betrayal? Quinn felt nauseas at the bitterness in Rachel's tone. She reached out to her and took it as a good sign when she did not pull out of her grip. Quinn's eyes darted to Dude who was peeping at them now, obviously curious.
"Rachel, please?"She pleaded and she felt Rachel softened at that. Taking it as an opportunity, she pulled her awkwardly into an embrace, trying to make it look like a couple quarrel between them. Their bodies tensed at the contact.
They stood there as they thawed, melting the ice between them. Their bodies relaxed and Quinn felt herself pulling Rachel tighter towards her. Unspoken apologies hanging in the air. Can apologies be replaced by hugs?
Her thoughts were interrupted when Rachel sucked and bit hard on her neck without warning. Quinn jerked in pain.
"What the..."She cursed and pulled herself away from Rachel. Her hand rubbing the spot which Rachel had just bitten. That was so gonna bruise.
"A sorry would be nice but I shall not be such a diva about it."She smirked and skipped back towards their room.
Quinn so wanted to be pissed off, annoyed at the minimal.
But she failed terribly when a smile crept up her face instead.
XOXOXOXOXOXO
Quinn felt the bed shook slightly and groaned. She pulled the blanket closer to her chest, hoping to be taken away by the sleep monster again. However, being a light sleeper, this bed shaking was really affecting her sleep.
"Stop shaking."She murmured, hoping Rachel would get the hint and stop whatever she was doing. When the shaking continued, she frowned.
What the hell was Rachel doing?
Then something slapped her hard in the face, the voices from last night flashback to her.
It couldn't be right...
She tried to listen for moans or any kind of sound that may provide her with some hint. But the night was silent, which was strange since Rachel snores in her sleep. She contemplated if she should interrupt her activity.
Quinn felt her face burning at that thought and brushed it aside.
No way was she going to interrupt.
She decided, she shall subtly make Rachel stop whatever she was doing.
With her eyes closed, she turned to face Rachel's back. She stopped, waiting for the bed-shaking activity to stop. But it did not. She almost face palm herself, forgetting that Rachel sucks at taking hints.
She gave a fake yawn before she accidentally slapped her hand over Rachel.
It was then she realized something was wrong.
"Rachel, are you OK?"She asked and sat up from her sleeping position, pulling Rachel to face her. Her hand stayed on her.
"God Rachel, you're shivering!"
Rachel groaned. "Cold..."She murmured weakly. Quinn's hand frantically reached for her forehead and it scalded her hand. Rachel was running a temperature.
"God Rachel, shit. Shit shit. We need to call the ambulance."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
It turned out, Quinn did not know the number for the ambulance. She piggybacked Rachel down to the reception.
"Dude,we need the ambulance. Rachel is running a high fever and she's shivering badly. We need to get the ambulance. We need to get her fix. We need to..." She paused and took in a deep breath. The churning of her stomach was making her nauseas.
"WE. NEED. THE. DAMN. AMBULANCE."She emphasised each word with an extra bite. Dude's eyes darted from her to Rachel and back before he scribbled something on a piece of paper.
"The nearest 24 hours clinic is just around the corner. Going to be faster if you were to bring her there. Go straight turn left."
Quinn grabbed the paper and without thanking him, dashed out of the motel.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
"Quinn, I can walk."Rachel mumbled weakly against her ear.
"Shut up Rachel. You almost made me call the damn freaking ambulance."Quinn reproached. Although glad that she was no longer feeling sick at the bottom of her stomach, the unpleasant taste still lingered at the tip of her tongue at how close she was about to...
She bit her lips.
Rachel was having a bad case of food poisoning, probably allergic to some ingredient in their meals since they both ate the same thing yet Quinn was OK. Quinn had read papers about food allergies taking lives away. Granted, Rachel's case was not that extreme, but there's a chance right? A 0.1% chance was still a chance.
She suddenly felt anger rising in her.
How did she let something like that happen?
"Quinn..."Rachel mumbled.
"Hmmm..."
"I'm so glad you're here with me..." Quinn felt like all of the particles in her were going to break down and cry. How could Rachel say things like that after what she had done to her? Not only this, but everything that happened since day one.
She nodded, not trusting her voice to come out stable.
When they had finally reached their room, Quinn dropped Rachel gently onto the bed. It was then that she realized how weak she looked. She sat on the floor, her hand ran to her forehead again and let out a sigh of relief. The fever was finally gone. She tucked the blanket closer to her before Rachel reached out and held on to her hand.
With her eyes still closed, she murmured.
"Can you sing for me Quinnie?"
Quinn stifled a smile. Rachel was still Rachel, despite being sick.
Her eyes trailing on Rachel for a few seconds before she sang the first song that came to her mind.
I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering, splendid
Tell me, princess, now when did
you last let your heart decide
Rachel smirked and murmured, "Aladdin..."
I can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over, sideways, and under
On a magic carpet ride
Quinn's free hand pushed Rachel's bangs aside and she beamed at how child-like Rachel looked.
A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us no
Or where to go
Or say we're only dreaming
Quinn smiled when she realized Rachel's breathing became even, her hand still holding on to Quinn's.
A whole new world
A dazzling place i never knew
But now from way up here
It's crystal clear
That now i'm in a whole new world
With you
She was surprised, however, when she realized her free hand was now tracing Rachel's face gently. Every sense was frowning and demanded a reason for her action. But her heart seemed to be in control and her fingers continued its path from Rachel's eyebrows...
Unbelievable sights
...to her eyes...
Indescribable feeling
Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling
...to her nose...
Through an endless diamond sky
...to her cheeks...
A whole new world
...to her mouth...
A hundred thousand things to see
I'm like a shooting star, I've come so far I can't go back to where i used to be
...to her chin...
A whole new world
Thats where we'll be
...to her jawline...
A thrilling change
A wonderous place
"For you and me..."She trailed off, smiling slightly as she watched Rachel sleep.
"Goodnight Rachel." She whispered under her breath and before she could stop herself, leaned forward to plant a small kiss on her forehead.
"Thank you Quinn..."She heard before she could pull herself away from Rachel.
XOXOXOXOXOXO
Thanks for taking time to comment! I've worked this out in a frantic rush so that I can publish it before New year. Last chapter in 2011, hope to revive some achele/faberry feelings.
Happy New year all my readers. I hope you know how grateful I am that somebody is reading this.
Song:
A whole new world - Aladdin