Chapter 3

I had been watching Santana one-woman army it through the arguement when my vision began to blur. I couldn't figure out what was happening. Everything was clear and then it wasn't. I shook my head to see if it helped. It didn't. Then the yelling began to die. I looked about. It seemed as if everyone was staring at me in shock. A sound escaped me. And then I realized.

I was crying.

_-(*)-(*)-(*)-_

"Quinn," Rachel whispered. She was staring at me with wide, sad eyes. I wondered how she could look so sad when I was the one that was crying. "Are you OK?"

Everyone was staring at me with the eyes that held the same sentiment as that question. Quinn Fabray? Crying? Was this really happening? I wanted to get away from all these people, but Santana was blocking the exit and I knew if she really wanted to stop me she very well could. I could probably turn it into a pretty good fight before she put me down, though.

I tried to further stifle the quiet sobs. It definitely wasn't working. I turned my gaze on the people surrounding me; I was glaring at them around my tears. It didn't seem to deter the looks. When I glanced in Santana's direction I witnessed one of the most contrasting looks on her face ever. It looked like she was stuck between hysterically laughing at me, or screaming. Both at the same volume though.

With one hand I scrubbed at my eyes, and with the other I flipped off Santana. Before I could react further she charged at me and snatched my arm from Rachel. She then proceeded to drag me out. I considered trying to struggle to get away from her, then chastised myself, I knew how strong Santana could be if she wanted to be. I barely heard Rachel's little noise of outrage before the door closed behind us. I was relieved to be out of that classroom until Santana shoved me into another empty one and slammed me against the wall. The door crashed shut.

"What. The. Hell is wrong with you," She growled out. "First you start ignoring me, not just me but just about everyone, then you don't join Cheerios, not only that but you don't join Glee either, now you're here blubbering for no apparent reason."

She was seething. There was something in her eyes now though. Something in the way she was speaking. Something that wasn't anger. She was worried about me. Her grip on my arms was slack now.

"I don't even know," I said. "I just-"

"-Santana," Rachel screamed as she burst into the room. "Don't hurt Quinn!"

"I'm not gonna hurt Tubers!"

"It doesn't look like that from my point of view!"

"Well it's true!"

They were both raising their voices again. Just more pointless yelling.

"Stop," I wailed. I pushed Santana so that I was between the both of them. "Please, please. Just stop. It's not that important. I'm not that important. Just stop. Please. Stop screaming..."

"Okay," Rachel said lowly. "Okay."

She said it placatingly. And it grated more on me than the ever could yelling. Their eyes were on me again.

This time I ran without either of their assistance.

_-(*)-(*)-(*)-_

I seemed to finally be getting a handle on this whole fleeing thing. This time neither girl dragged me back. I panicked a little when I reached into my bag for my keys and I couldn't find them. Turns out they were just hiding at the bottom because not even finding my keys was supposed to be easy.

I don't actually remember most of the trip to the car, or to my house. I tripped up the stairs to my bedroom. My things were thrown into the corner next to my work desk, while I flung myself onto the bed.

I don't know how today could've gone worse. This day would go down as the worst one in my life, or at least in the top ten. I wonder how much trouble I would get into for not going for the rest of the year. I can almost hear my mother's screaming. That is if she even notices. Do the cops come before or after the school contacts you…

Oh my god…

My cardigan. Rachel had been wearing it. When she had dragged me away I hadn't noticed, but she had been wearing it the whole time. A flush of happiness went through me. She was wearing it. If she was angry with me she wouldn't have been wearing it, right? You don't wear someones clothes if you hate them. A whirlwind of questions, and not a single answer. How lovely.

My eyes were closed, and I could feel myself beginning to drift.

Santana would find me tomorrow. She wasn't going to let what happened today go. Most likely she was already plotting how she planned to stalk me tomorrow. Which will most likely involve staking out my locker waiting for me to arrive. Then kidnapping me once again. I wonder how long I can go without my textbooks. I might be able to borrow from people who sit next to m…

_-(*)-(*)-(*)-_

Somebody was in bed with me. It didn't surprise me when I looked up and it was Rachel. She was cuddling into me. Her arm was thrown over my waist, and her face was nuzzling into my neck. I could feel her lips right next to my ear.

"It's okay," She said lightly. Her hand was gently caressing my back. If I had been crying I knew it would have soothed me. "You should know, I've always forgiven you. Always."

It was so warm and comforting here. Her words washed over me in a tidal wave of relief, and I wrapped my arms tighter around her. I could feel her gentle breath against my cheek. She smelled nice, but I couldn't place it. It was elusive and every time I thought I had a grip on what it was it was gone again. Peppermint maybe? No something closer to cotton candy, but not at all. My curiosity with the fragrance kept my attention for a time.

Soft material was clutched in my hand. It was practically pitch black, but I knew that it was my cardigan that she was wearing. I wanted her to wear it always. In fact if she tried to give it back I would find a reason to 'lend' it to her again. At least that's what I planned. Then I realized that if she gave it back to me it would smell like her. I've reached an impasse of what I plan to do.

She started to pull away from me. I clutched tighter, yet she still slipped further out of my grasp until her forehead was pressed against my own. I could make out her warm brown eyes in the dark. A smile was playing across her mouth, and suddenly her mouth was playing across mine.

Her lips pressed gently in a chaste first kiss. She began to pull away from me again, but she returned for seconds quite quickly. I kissed her with everything I had. It felt so good, and it was Rachel.

Her lips detached, and in my daze she was able to put some room between us. Her hand brushed a few wayward strands of hair out of my eyes, and she grinned at me happily. It made my heart seize a little in it's own joy. I closed my eyes and pulled her towards me again.

_-(*)-(*)-(*)-_

My eyes flew open. Rachel was not lying next to me. More to the point. Rachel was not here with me kissing me.

Well…

Shit.