Not Like I Think About You Constantly

By: Tracy Cook

Disclaimer: I do not own anything; these characters belong to the creators of Glee, One Tree Hill, and The Vampire Diaries.

Authors Note: This is an AU fic that focuses around Glee/OTH/Vampire Diaries. There will be NO VAMPIRES and characters may be slightly OOC, but I will try and keep them in character.

Pairing: Quinn/Rachel, Brooke/Haley, and Caroline/Rebekah.

Rating: M

Chapter Twenty-Two

Miss Lima Ohio

Caroline ran around the house, frantically barking out orders to the other workers and preparing the decorations. She loved planning events and parties. So, of course Miss Lima Ohio was one of her favorite events of the year. It was a beauty pageant that she constantly aimed to win. Right now, winning and setting up for the event, were her top priorities.

Deep down, she knew that she was avoiding the emotional trauma by throwing herself into the competition. Rebekah had asked her how she felt about the attack on many occasions, but she always told her she was fine. That it was no big deal. That she never thought about it really.

These were lies.

She thought about it all the time. She dreamt about it. And even with Niklaus behind bars she was terrified for her and Rebekah's safety.

'Okay, stop thinking about such depressing things! Focus on the task at hand, Caroline! This afternoon is going to be perfect and you are FINALLY going to win! This is your year!' Her mind reminded. Once again she was distracting herself with work. It was easier that way.

It was going to be difficult for her to win. Brooke, Bevin, and Santana were all in the running. None of them were her true competition though. Her true competition was Quinn Fabray. As with homecoming, she always won Miss Lima Ohio. Ever since they were six years old and running in the younger division, she had always won. Caroline just wanted to win once.

Suddenly, Caroline caught sight of someone who was arranging the flowers wrong. She marched toward him and threw up her hands. "No! No! Stop! You are doing it all wrong! It is supposed to go red, yellow, and then white, not red, white, and then yellow!"

The man looked at her with a baffled expression and quickly started to fix the arrangement. "I'm sorry Ma'am; I just must have mixed it up."

"Yeah, you must have! I mean are you like trying to ruin the entire—"

"—Hello, love."

Caroline smiled brightly as she heard the familiar accented voice of her girlfriend behind her. She completely forgot about scolding the man who had messed up the flowers, and turned looking over her shoulder and catching blue eyes with her own.

She swirled around on the heels of her boots and her toothy grin stretched from ear to ear. "Hello, you." She said, taking a few steps toward Rebekah and placing her hands on her hips. "What are you doing here?"

"I missed my lovely girlfriend and I wanted to come and visit her." Her full lips twisted up and she wrapped her arms around Caroline's neck, pulling her body closer to her own. "You see. She has sort of been preoccupied with obsessing over this silly little beauty pageant."

Caroline scoffed and rolled her eyes at her. "I have not been obsessing."

Rebekah flashed her a pointed look and she laughed.

"I haven't! I just really want it to go perfectly, and I really want to win this year! More than anything."

"Why you feel the need to validate your beauty through the judgment of others, I will never understand." She admitted with a soft sigh. It wasn't that Rebekah did not support her girlfriend and what she wanted to do; it was that she really did not understand why she needed it. Why she needed them to tell her that she was beautiful in order for her to feel beautiful.

'She is the most beautiful woman in all of history…'

Caroline huffed out in frustration. "Look, I know that you don't get it Rebekah, but this is really important to me. Will you please just come and support me?"

"Of course I will come and support you." She chewed on her full bottom lip and stared down into stunning blue pools. "I will always support you, sweets. Even if I do not understand the point of these competitions."

"The point is to win and to feel beautiful for a night. You know, like a princess." She smiled.

"Or, to lose and feel hideous and worthless for a lifetime." Caroline sent her a glare and her smile instantly fell as she heard the words. She knew that they were true. She had been losing every year since her first pageant and she did feel worthless, she hated that, but it was still important to her.

Rebekah lifted a hand and caressed the other woman's cheek. "I will attend, Caroline. As long as you make me a promise."

"What kind of promise?" She wondered hesitantly.

Rebekah curled her fingers and traced the tips of them along her girlfriend's jawline. Smiling to herself as she watched Caroline shiver beneath her fingers. "Promise me that no matter what judgments these mindless fools make…" She paused. "You will know that you are the most beautiful woman entering this pageant." She twisted her fingers in blonde curls and added in a hushed whisper, "Inside and out…"

"Rebekah." A bright blush covered her pale cheeks and she cast her head down, embarrassed.

Rebekah brushed her fingers down under her chin and lifted Caroline's head so that they were staring deep into each other's eyes. Her lips were hovering over the other blonde's, and her breath was rushing against her skin.

"You are. Promise me that no matter what they say, you will walk away knowing that."

It was difficult not to believe her when she was being so persistent. Caroline found herself nodding her head and smiling. "I promise."

Rebekah was happy to hear that Caroline was not going to allow the competition to crush her. She knew that she wanted to win, and she truly did believe that she deserved to win, but not everyone got what they deserved. Bad things happened to good people. She pulled Caroline closer to her and kissed her gently.

When Caroline pulled back she let out a sigh and dropped her head down against the British woman's shoulder.

"I know that you think this whole thing is so stupid." She laughed under her breath and shook her head. "I just really want to win for once." Pulling back, she threw up her hands in frustration and started to rant. "I mean, Quinn just keeps talking about how easy it's going to be for her to win again, like she always does, and I just-I want to win for once. That's all I want."

Rebekah watched her girlfriend closely as she started to fix the flower arrangements and ramble on about the importance of the competition. She knew that it was more than just wanting to win, it was years of self-image problems and weeks of avoidance. Caroline was hiding behind the pageant.

"I just—I don't get why it's always her!" She exclaimed. "Why can't it be me? Just for once, why can't it be me? I'm pretty too! And I'm definitely a more sociable and outgoing individual. So, why do people always have to love her so much more?"

"I don't love her more." Rebekah pointed out, blushing softly as she realized that she had in a way just told Caroline that she loved her.

Caroline turned around and looked up at her, laughing and rolling her eyes. "Well, duh! You are my girlfriend. That's different."

Rebekah chuckled amusedly. "Yes, I will admit I may be a tad biased on the subject, but it is more than just that." She pulled her body closer to her own. "You are a wonderful woman, Caroline. You are the sweetest, most loving and caring, beautiful woman that I have ever encountered. No one deserves to truly feel beautiful and loved as much as you do."

Caroline's blush intensified and she rested her forehead against Rebekah's. Staring deep into her honest and loving blue eyes, she knew that it wasn't true. Someone did deserve to feel those things more than she did.

"Thanks…" She spoke softly, lost in her thoughts.

O

"How does this dress look?" Quinn asked as she walked out from the bathroom wearing a beautiful white and yellow dress. Her hair was done up and curled, and she looked breathtakingly beautiful.

Rachel just stared at her for a moment with wide brown eyes and her lips hanging open. Honestly, she could not believe that someone so beautiful could exist. She looked like an angel sent down directly from heaven.

"Rachel…?" Quinn asked insecurely, playing with the fabric of her dress.

The starlet stood up from her bed and made her way across the room, her eyes fixated intently on her girlfriend. "You look absolutely stunning, Quinn." She admitted with a wide smile.

Quinn offered her a small smile and turned to look herself over in the full-length mirror. Her hazel eyes tracing over the dress and how it fit to her body. She liked the dress, but she did not know if it was the right one. The one that would ensure her victory in the pageant. "I-I don't know… Is it really my color? I mean—"

"—You look perfect." Rachel insisted, wrapping her arms around the other woman's waist, holding her body close to her own and resting her chin against her shoulder.

"I need to look better than perfect, Rachel." She said with a sigh. "Caroline is really aiming to win this year and she just might get the pity vote after everything that happened… I need to win this."

Rachel did not understand why Quinn was starting to freak out about the pageant. She just wanted her girlfriend to calm down and enjoy the day. She stroked her fingers along her hips and planted a kiss against her shoulder. "Regardless if you win or lose, you will always be the prettiest girl that I have ever met." She smiled reassuringly, but she could tell that it had done little to calm Quinn down. Her muscles were tense and her jaw was tight as she stared at her reflection.

"Thanks… But, you don't understand. I need to win this."

Rachel caught hazel eyes in the mirror and she knit her brows together. "Why though? Why do you so desperately feel the need to win this competition?"

"Because." Quinn spoke through grit teeth. Her voice was low and serious. "I need to win this. I need this to know that I am still the prettiest and most popular girl in town. I need this to know that I am still important."

Sighing, Rachel pulled away from Quinn and walked around her in order to stare up at her. She did not understand why she was so obsessed with her status. "But, why do you need this in order to feel beautiful when you have me constantly reminding you that you are?"

"I just need this."

She stared up into hazel eyes and smiled sadly. "What you need… Is to love yourself for who you are. You need to allow yourself to actually truly find that happiness that you desperately seek, instead of chasing after false happiness. You need to find happiness and feel beautiful, with or without the validation of everyone else."

"You know nothing about this, Rachel." She stated coldly.

Rachel held her chin up high and spoke with confidence, "See, that is where you are completely and utterly wrong. I do understand what you are going through. I understand feeling like you will never be loved for who you are, like you will never be good enough. I comprehend that need and desire to have others admire you and look up to you, to feel important. I feel the same way about Broadway."

Quinn could feel tears behind her eyes.

"But, I would be happier just knowing that you love and admire me. I do not need the validation of others if I have you." Rachel said with a nod.

"Rachel…" Quinn muttered under her breath, she felt terrible knowing that the next words to cross her lips would break Rachel's heart. "I need this."

She turned and started to walk back toward the bathroom, telling Rachel that she was going to change out of the dress. The petite diva watched her head into the bathroom and she felt a pain in her chest. Basically what she had heard was that her own admiration and love was not enough to make Quinn happy.

O

"I know that it's a big deal, Quinn! Trust me, I know." Caroline insisted. "But, I'm just saying that maybe it doesn't really matter who wins!"

"How can you even say that!?" Quinn growled out angrily, lifting her fingers to her forehead and rubbing away the headache that was forming. They had been competing since they were little kids, this was important, winning was important.

Caroline used to feel the exact same way.

"Because, some things are more important than winning competitions!" She shouted back. Her voice shaking with frustration as she glared at her best friend.

"Name one." Quinn spat back.

"Rebekah." Caroline responded quickly. She did not have to think twice about it. Rebekah was more important than winning a competition. She was the most important thing in her life. "Rachel, Haley." She added. "The people that we love actually respecting us and looking up to us, making them feel like they are loved."

Caroline took a few steps toward Quinn and blue eyes stared into hazel. "I mean, look at you right now. You're so freaking worried about being the prettiest girl in town, right? Well, how do you think Rachel feels?"

Quinn's eyes filled with sadness and pain as she threw her faults in her face. Sometimes best friends could be your worst enemies.

"I—She understands."

"Yeah, that's what she says. But, how do you think that she really feels about it?" Caroline crossed her arms and raised a brow at her.

After a few minutes of silence, Caroline took another step toward her and started to explain. "Let me tell you how she feels then. She feels worthless, pathetic, and unattractive, Quinn. Think about it. You've dedicated a lifetime to making her feel unattractive, and now YOU are freaking out because, what? You might lose a beauty pageant for once in your life and you won't feel beautiful for one day? She's felt unpretty every single day!"

Quinn stared over at Brooke who was wearing a similar expression to her own. One of guilt and sadness. Caroline was right, she was a terrible person.

Caroline turned and looked over at Brooke. "And look at Haley. If you can see her that is, the girl is practically invisible… And she might act like she's okay with it, she may even pretend that she likes it, but she doesn't."

Brooke chewed on her bottom lip and stared down at her dress.

"And then there is Rebekah." Caroline muttered out sadly. "And yeah, she knows that she is beautiful, but inside she is so broken and alone. She has been betrayed by the one person she thought she could trust, and she found out that her mom is dead! Winning this could actually really help lift her spirits, and yet here we are being selfish!"

She threw up her hands and groaned out loudly before turning and walking out of the room.

O

Caroline nervously stared over at Quinn as they stood on the stage waiting for the host to announce the winner. She knew that her best friend was going to be furious at her when she found out what she had done. Turning, she glanced out at the crowd of people watching the crowning.

Rebekah, Rachel, and Haley were all standing in the front row cheering on their girlfriends in their own ways.

Rebekah was merely smiling at her, Haley was cheering for Brooke, and Rachel was supporting her girlfriend the only way that she knew how. By holding up a huge sign and wearing a shirt that said "Team Quinn" on it. She was always such an overachiever. Even at dating someone. It made Caroline laugh quietly to herself as she thought about the irony.

Quinn Fabray, one of the most closed women in the world was dating Rachel Berry, one of the most proud and open women in the world.

Brooke flashed Haley a dimpled smirk and winked at her. She now did not care who won the competition, she was focused on what was going to happen after the competition. She had plans for when they got back to their house.

Quinn was feeling guilty. She felt guilty that she still wanted to win the crown. That she was embarrassed that Rachel was making such a spectacle, and that she was angry at Caroline for pointing out the truth. She just wanted the competition to be over and to have her crown so that everything could go back to normal.

"And this year's Miss Lima Ohio is…" The host stated into the microphone, leaving enough time to drive everyone insane with anticipation. All eyes were on him. Some nervous, others excited, a few terrified, all waiting for him to make the announcement.

Caroline's heart was pounding loudly in her ears. She knew that she was going to get caught, but she didn't care.

"Rebekah Mikaelson!" He stared down at the card with perplexed eyes and then asked, "Rebekah Mikaelson?" She wasn't even in the competition. He looked over at the judges who were all wearing similar expressions and he shrugged his shoulders. "The winner this year is Rebekah Mikaelson due to write-in votes."

Rebekah was shocked when she heard her name. At first she had thought that it was a mistake, but then she had heard it again and again. She glanced around the room with wide blue eyes and a furrowed brow, her full lips parted in confusion. She did not understand how she could have won the competition. She was not even in it, and she was the new girl at school. There was no way that the judges knew who she was.

'This must be some sort of mistake… it couldn't possibly be—'

Suddenly she was surrounded by a bright spotlight.

After her eyes adjusted to the light, she focused them on the stage and realized that Caroline was wearing a bright dorky smile on her face. 'She set this up…look at her… she looks so proud…gah.'

Rebekah shot her a glare and pursed her lips. Caroline noticed the glare and laughed, lifting up her hands and giving her two thumbs-up signs.

Quinn looked like she was ready to kill someone. Probably Caroline or herself. Her jaw was tight, her muscles tense, and her hands clenched at her sides as she glared at her best friend.

"Come on up here and collect your sash and crown, Miss Lima Ohio!" The announcer said.

Rebekah moved toward the stairs and informed the man, "I believe that there has been some sort of mistake."

"No mistakes! You won with a write-in vote. Now come on."

"But—"

"—Come on."

Caroline ran down the stairs and reached out grabbing her girlfriend by the hands and dragging her onto the stage.

Rebekah glared at her as she was pulled onto the stage. "What in the bloody hell are you thinking, Caroline? You should be winning that crown, not me."

"No." She shook her head and pushed her toward the center of the stage where she would receive her crown. "You told me earlier that no one was as pretty as me inside or out, but you were wrong." Her smile widened and she squeezed her hand. "You are, and you deserve this."

"I truly appreciate the sentiment, but—"

"—oh just shut up and accept it!"

Rebekah's lips quirked up and she raised a brow at the other blonde. "Excuse me, did you just tell me to shut up?"

"Yeah, now do it and accept the crown already." Caroline nudged her playfully and backed away from the center of the stage. Leaving Rebekah to receive her crown and her sash. Knowing that she was the one to put the smile on her face made her feel complete.

O

"I can't believe that you rigged the competition, Caroline!" Quinn shouted angrily, her body shaking as she walked toward her friend. Not that she really considered her a friend at this point. "She shouldn't have won. I should have won!"

"You got second place, what's the big deal!?"

"This competition is a big deal to me! If anyone can understand why, it's you. Winning these competitions is the only time that I feel special!"

"Isn't that pathetic!?" Caroline screamed out. "I mean seriously! You've got Rachel! She should make you feel special, and by the way." She paused and moved closer to her, staring down into hazel eyes and scowling. "In case you didn't get the memo, you aren't the only one who deserves to feel special, Quinn."

Just as Quinn was about to respond, Caroline turned and walked across the room toward Rebekah. She did not want to waste her breath yelling at her best friend any longer. Quinn was set in her ways and it was going to take time before she learnt to move past it.

Her frustration immediately turned to happiness when Rebekah turned around and spotted her, smiling. She was surrounded by people who were complimenting and congratulating her, and she looked completely happy. It made everything worth it.

When she reached her girlfriend she held out a hand to her and smiled playfully. "Can I have this dance, Miss Lima Ohio?"

"I would love nothing more."

O

Haley smiled and rested her head against Brooke's shoulder as they swayed with the music. Gently tracing her fingers along her collarbone, watching them move along her skin. She was so happy to be back in her arms. When they were apart she felt like something was missing, like she was not complete.

"I'm sorry that you didn't win." Haley whispered. Her breath rushing against Brooke's skin, causing her to shiver. "As far as I'm concerned, you are the prettiest."

"See, that's where you are wrong."

The tutor pulled away and stared up into hazel eyes with large brown, she did not understand what she meant. Of course she thought that Brooke was the prettiest girl in the competition. She had never met anyone who was prettier.

"Because, you are obviously the prettiest girl in this place." Her dimples caved in as she smiled widely. Caroline's words had really made her think about how selfish she had been in past relationships, and how she never wanted to be that way again. This wasn't about her; it was about Haley and making her feel special. "Besides, who says I didn't win?"

"I'm pretty sure it's in the rules." She pointed out.

"Ha. Ha. I mean, I won because I get to dance with the prettiest girl here."

Haley stared down at her hands that were resting against Brooke's chest and shoulder and she blushed shyly. She did not think that she would ever get used to all of the compliments, but at least she was starting to believe that her girlfriend meant them. "You know, you don't have to keep calling me pretty, Brooke."

"You're right, I don't have to." She concluded, reaching down and lifting her head up by her chin so that she was staring down into beautiful eyes. "But, I want to. You need to know how pretty you are." Brooke leant down and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, smirking against them when she heard Haley let out a soft whimper at the contact.

She knew that she was going to love what she had planned after the pageant.

Kissing her way down her jawline she whispered hotly against Haley's ear. "Plus, we will both be winning later."

Her body shook and her heart started racing in her chest as she heard Brooke mention them both winning later. A familiar ache formed between her thighs as her mind immediately went to inappropriate places. "What-uh, what do you mean?" She breathed out, finding it difficult to speak. After weeks of teasing, she wanted her so badly.

"Maybe I have something special planned for when we get home." Brooke stated suggestively. Her voice was deep and raspy and full of lust as she leant forward and kissed Haley's neck. The tutor whimpered out loudly and her eyes fluttered closed.

"What do you have planned, exactly?"

Brooke pulled back and Haley watched as a devious grin practically consumed her girlfriend's beautiful face. Her hazel eyes were dark with desire. It was obvious what she had planned for after the event and it caused her body to ache with need. She no longer cared about the pageant; she just wanted to get home.

"Oh, you know. Just plans." She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

"So, what are we still doing here?" Haley wondered desperately.

"We were dancing." Brooke stated with a grin. "But, I can see that someone is in a frisky mood."

"More like an impatient mood."

"Same thing." She teased. Leaning in she hovered her lips directly over Haley's. Allowing her breath to rush against her skin and watching amusedly as the other woman attempted to close the distance. 'God, my girl is definitely frisky!' "Maybe we should get going then?"

"Definitely."

O

"Thank you for this, love." Rebekah smiled down at Caroline as they moved along to the music. Her senses were filled with the scent and warmth that was Caroline Forbes, it was intoxicating.

"I thought that you said this whole thing was pointless." She smiled smugly.

"Oh, it is." Rebekah smirked. She could tell that Caroline was feeling just a little too proud of herself, and she loved teasing her when she did.

Caroline scoffed at her and looked away, muttering a 'whatever'.

"But, what you did for me was not pointless. What you did for me was sweet."

Hearing Rebekah's kind words caused her heart to leap and she returned to smiling, leaning her head against her girlfriend's shoulder. They did not usually slow dance, but it seemed appropriate at the moment. She just wanted to be close to her and hold her.

"I just wanted you to know how special you are…" Caroline said. "How much you mean to me… How much I love you." The words came out naturally.

Rebekah's body stiffened in her embrace and she immediately realized what she had said. Blushing brightly, Caroline pulled back and stared at the blonde Brit with large blue eyes. "I—I mean, I—I well you know what I mean." The embarrassment was overwhelming and she could not find words to explain what she meant, but she knew that she didn't need them. She had already said them.

She had told Rebekah that she loved her.

Rebekah lifted her fingers and ghosted them along Caroline's cheek. She felt like she was about to cry, just hearing those words. She had wanted to hear them, needed to hear them, for so long. It seemed like she had been trying to win over Caroline's heart for the longest time. Her hands were shaking and her heart was racing.

"I know exactly what you mean." She paused. "And, I love you too."

O

"Quinn?" Rachel whispered out softly as she stared at her girlfriend with worried eyes. The blonde was so angry about losing, and she was terrified to upset her.

Quinn turned to look over at her with a scowl. "What do you want, Rachel?"

She was shocked by the way that the other woman snapped at her. "I uh—I" She started, but she did not know what to say. Quinn was not acting like herself. Closing her eyes and taking in a breath, Rachel found her confidence and approached her. "I wanted to know if you would care to dance with me. I know that you are devastated by your loss, but I would still love to dance with you."

Quinn glanced around the room at all of the people. She felt like they were judging her, like they hated her. It was the only explanation for how she could have lost the competition. 'It wasn't rigged at all… they just hate me…' She spotted a group of adults that were friends with her parents and her body tensed. Her mind was consumed with fears of them telling her parents about her being near Rachel.

There was no way that she could dance with her in front of them.

"I can't, Rachel. I'm sorry." She watched as Rachel's face fell and her stomach twisted with guilt.

Rachel moved toward her, but Quinn pulled away from her touch as though she was burnt. It was like they had somehow taken fifty steps back. Her chest clenched tightly and painfully and she knit her brows together, staring up into her eyes with hurt brown.

"You can't dance with me, or you won't dance with me? Because, those are two very different things." Quinn did not say anything in response. "So, we are back to this again? You have reverted to the old you where you run away from yourself and avoid me? What's next, Quinn!" Her voice was shaking and tears were rolling down her cheeks as she glared at her girlfriend.

Quinn clenched her jaw, but still did not speak.

"Are you going to return to slinging insults at me in order to deliberately hurt my feelings and push me away? Are you going to destroy all of the progress that we have made? Because, I don't think that I can handle that!" Rachel wheezed out, moving toward her and attempting to hold her hands again.

Once again, Quinn pulled away from her touch.

"Why are you doing this!?" Rachel practically screamed. "Look around you. No one cares that we are together!"

"Are you blind or just naïve!?" She finally spoke up angrily. Her voice was lower than Rachel's. She did not want everyone in the house to hear what they were talking about. "Look around you, Rachel. Everyone cares! They are all staring at us, judging us…they will always judge us, and they will tell my parents."

"Quinn, please do not do this." Rachel pleaded. "They do not care and they will not tell anyone. Look at them; they are all preoccupied with their lives." She reached out for her hands again, and moved toward her. She needed to know that Quinn was not going to run away. She needed to know that she was not going to pull away.

But, Quinn did pull away again.

"Fine!" Rachel shouted with teary eyes. "If this is the life that you truly desire, a life in which you pretend to be happy by living through vanity and the love of other people. People who only know the fake you, then fine! But, I want no part of this façade."

She turned around and clenched her fists at her sides. Executing a perfected storm out and leaving Quinn behind.

It hurt her too much to be with someone who was ashamed of her, ashamed of herself.

Quinn stared after her and for just a second she contemplated her words. She balanced the two lives and weighed them. There was everything that she had ever thought that she wanted on one side, and everything that she really wanted on the other.

Suddenly, it all clicked into place.

She wanted real happiness.

"Wait, Rachel!"

O

Authors Note:

Thank you all for reading this chapter and for all of your lovely support! I apologize for taking so long to update. I didn't get very many reviews for the last chapter and I have been pretty depressed lately… :/ But, I hope that you enjoyed this chapter! I have a lot of ideas for the next few chapters, Baley's first time of course, Faberry's first time, their futures/careers, Halloween, etc. It should be lots of fun! I hope that y'all are as excited as I am!

Please do leave me some reviews if y'all want me to add the next chapter quickly! Thank you so much for everything.

I love you all!

-Tracy Cook