Chapter 3:
Get ready for me California, 'cause I'm comer!
As soon as she wakes up, she smiles. Something is tickling her nose and it smells so good. She opens her eyes, blonde hair all over her face. To Rachel's surprise, she is not only cuddling Quinn, she is almost on top of the blonde. The awkward part: her hand is on Quinn stomach, under her shirt.
Oh my God!
She quickly takes her hands from Quinn.
Oh shit! Too fast…
She is not that bad. She certainly had far worse hangovers. But it wasn't a good decision to move so fast, because A) her head and b) she woke up Quinn.
"Sorry, go back to sleep." Rachel whispers, silently praying that Quinn didn't notice where her hand was.
Then she notices the silhouette of a certain person in her bed and her hand wanders over the bodies on her bed.
This is Brittany…and this… of course…
"Look where you're going to put that hand." Santana grumbles.
"Oh… look who is here."
"Berry, go back to sleep, I'm not ready for your freaking morning good mood."
Rachel pouts annoyed.
"There's nothing wrong about waking up in a good mood and well disposed; It's not morning by the way, it's almost noon."
"Go back to sleep Rach." Quinn mumbles.
"Yeah… go back to sleep Rach."
"Britt, stop it, you know how ticklish I am. Oh my God... stop it!"
As Rachel starts laughing harder, Brittany decides to tickle her some more. Rachel laughing is something too precious to miss. But as she is trying to escape from Brittany's hands, the brunette ends up kicking Quinn's butt.
"Okay, that's enough!"
With just one arm Quinn grabs Rachel by the waist and lifts her. Quickly the positions are chnged and the actress is now between the dancer and the singer.
3 hours later…
When Quinn opens her eyes she notices that something is different. She rubs her eyes, tries to read the clock, but without her contacts lengths it is very difficult.
2 PM.
When she finally realizes what is different, she rolls her eyes and looks behind her.
"How?"
"Don't look at me." Rachel says innocently.
"Sorry Q, but Rachel is really good to cuddle, like a little teddy bear." Brittany explains.
"How I didn't see you moving?"
"Britt was really fast and when you're sleeping you're kind of like a rock." Rachel giggles.
"Is Miss Lopez sleeping?" Quinn asks.
"With this bitches' convention going on?"
"Santana…"
"Sorry baby." Santana hugs her girlfriend. "And I'm sorry I was a bitch before."
Brittany kisses her cheek.
"You shouldn't apologize to me."
"Okay, Q and Berry, I apologize for my behavior."
"Yeah right, you just wanna get out of the doghouse." Quinn teases.
"That too."
Rachel smiles amused.
"Are you alive there, Berry?" Santana frowns curious.
"What? Why?"
"You didn't say anything for the past 3 minutes."
"I was just high-fiving myself."
Quinn looks at her in surprise.
"You know, I was Rachel berry, the loser, midget, manhands, annoying diva with no sex appeal at all, but somehow, I have the unholy trinity in my bed, I mean wasn't it the fantasy of every guy in that school? I'm just saying."
Santana's mouth hangs open as she listens to Rachel's rambling in utter disbelief. Quinn just rolls her eyes.
"Totally." Brittany nods. "But you always had sex appeal to me Rach."
"Okay hobbit, you asked for it!"
Santana hits her with a pillow.
"I couldn't agree more." Quinn hits Rachel too.
"Ouch!"
Rachel tries to defend herself, but Santana and Quinn don't give her a chance. She gets in fetal position with her arms covering her head, as the two girls keet hitting her.
"That's so mature! Britt you have to defend me, like super girl." The singer lifts her head."I totally think you're just like her, by the way she has blonde hair, she's pretty, and she's also strong."
Brittany's face lights up with a smile from ear to ear as Santana hits Rachel's head.
"Damn it! Santana!" Rachel yells.
Brittany takes a pillow.
"Evil girls! Time to suffer the consequences! Super girl is going to finish you."
"You mean you will try." Quinn challenges the other blonde.
The actress tries to hit her, but the dancer is too fast. Brittany hits Quinn and straddles the hazel eyed girl, and then she whirls and hits Santana grabbing the Latina waist.
"Rach take their weapons!"
Rachel takes the cue and stands; then she takes their pillows.
"Who is in charge now?" Rachel mocks."You guys better surrender!"
"Okay we surrender." Quinn giggles and Santana puts her hand in the air.
"I'll release you guys." Brittany says as she releases the girls.
"B let's go to the shower." Santana announces.
Rachel smirks and looks at her target, with her eyes shining mischievously. Brittany helps Santana to get out of bed and Quinn is too busy making funny faces to the two girls. The blonde doesn't notice Rachel's movement. The pillow hits her head before she can do anything.
"What the hell! Rachel!"
Rachel giggles.
"What was that for?"
"I'm sure you know the answer, unless you have a bad memory."
Before Quinn can reach the Broadway star, Rachel runs to the bathroom. Quinn throws a pillow at the door.
"That's impossible; does she have eyes behind her head?"
"No, but she is Rachel freaking Berry, let's go B."
"Sweet revenge!" Rachel yells.
Quinn huffs. But then Rachel starts singing in the shower and she smiles.
"I don't like cities, but I like New York."
"I'm going to use the other bathroom."
Rachel gets in the living room and finds Quinn and Brittany playing tennis, virtual tennis on Wii. Although she is not a gamer enthusiastic, Rachel has a respectful collection. Buying games was something she used to do with Finn. She prefers the dancing games but she has some sports too because Blaine likes them.
"Berry! Do you have any food in this house?"
"I'm a New Yorker Santana, I don't cook."
Rachel throws herself on the couch.
"I need coffee." Rachel sighs.
"Sitting in there won't make the coffee magically appear."
"It might."
"Berry! B is hungry and she needs to eat; or she won't have energy and if she is without energy-"
"Don't finish that sentence and stop complaining; Kurt is bringing the food, he just called me."
"Mr. Berry's slave has a life?"
In this moment Quinn hits the virtual ball and her shirt lifts slightly so Rachel gets distracted.
"Mm?"
"Kurt."
Rachel licks her lips.
"What about Kurt?"
"Gee! Berry, can you stop looking at Quinn's ass and pay attention?"
The two blondes look behind, making Rachel blush.
"I wasn't!" The diva stamps her foot childlike.
"Will you do a storm out? I think I miss them." Santana teases her.
Rachel huffs and in this moment the doorbell rings.
"Thank God!"
###
"Not that I'm complaining."
Santana addresses her attention to Kurt after Rachel leaves them to answer her phone.
"I was starving, but don't you think this is a little too much? I mean I always knew Rachel is a freaking spoiled Diva, but do you have to do all this stuff?"
"Rachel it's not spoiled, you know that."
Santana frowns at him.
"Okay, she is, but just a little bit." He giggles.
"Can't believe you agreed with her." Quinn states in a very harsh way.
Kurt looks to Santana. He is confused.
"What?"
"What's next? Dress her like the grease clown again?"
Surprised santana is with her mouth open. Kurt locks their eyes onto each other as they both know that the bitch mode is on. They just don't know why.
"As I remember you were as guilty as I was in that one."
"Finn was my boyfriend; I needed to distract him and what was your excuse? Oh yeah you don't have one."
"Okay, okay, what is this all about?" Santana asks.
"Yeah, I don't like when you guys fight" Brittany whines.
"We're not fighting B; I was just pointing some truths." Quinn says with her voice full of venom.
"I may have been a bitch to Rachel. I Know I was, but my friendship with her nowadays it's completely genuine."
"Are you saying mine it's not?" Kurt gets angry and raises his voice a little.
"No, I would never say that."
"Please guys, we're all friends, let's just." Santana tries to calm the mood. But Quinn cuts her off.
"But I have to say that Rachel is one of the reasons I'm here, she's always pushed me forward in one way or another, but I got to Yale. Every one of you, your careers, everything has Rachel's signature on it somewhere."
He lets out a laugh.
"Oh my God! Good to see you're back! Or maybe not, what is this all about Quinn? Why the bitch mode on? The old HBIC Quinn? Is it PMS? What did I do to you?" He sighs. "You listen, I'm very grateful that Rachel helped me. That she helped my career and I'm sure everybody else is too."
"I am." Brittany nods.
"You know what? We both know that the only person that Rachel would've never helped is you! Because you're so full of yourself and too proud to accept her help, but news flash Fabray, you Rachel Berry's friend, this could shake your precious popularity at school but I don't think that is the case anymore."
Quinn chuckles sarcastically.
"You're right I wouldn't have accepted her help, because I know I don't deserve it! I'm her friend only because I want to be her friend."
"You have the nerve to insinuate that I'm only her friend for interest!"
"Dios mio stop it! You guys are bothering B which means, you are bothering me!"
"I'm not insinuating anything, just want to remind you that you wanted her solos, you judged her clothes choices and gossiped behind her back with Mercedes!"
"Is this really because I agreed with Santana that Rachel is spoiled? Or is this about something else?"
"You're her best friend after all, you know her best."
No, it wasn't just because Kurt agreed with Santana. Quinn is frustrated, she hates that she has to go already, she hates that she lives so far away from Rachel. And she hates that she is jealous of what Kurt share with the diva.
Kurt rolls his eyes irritated, he really doesn't want to fight with Quinn because of Rachel. It's too dangerous.
"Yes, she is and I love her the way she is, a spoiled, Diva and annoyingly optimist, egocentric and even her famous storms out. The point is, with me she is allowed to be herself no matter what, she doesn't have to restrain herself because she is afraid of losing a friend."
"She is herself with me."
"Sure, she is."
Quinn glares at him.
"Sorry, it's just my lack of trust in people; all I know is that, when we are trying so hard to please someone…" She trails off suggestively.
"I'm not trying anything! God! What is going on? She is my friend that's all and don't you dare say a word against my intentions or anything about our friendship! Where were you in her freshman year, when she was all alone and lost here in New York? Oh, you didn't know, you couldn't have known, because you weren't interested. All the emails she sent to you and the texts, and the metro passes. As a matter of fact, I'm wondering why you didn't use it?"
Quinn turns to Santana in a bolt.
"Why did you tell him?"
"What? That you avoided Rachel?" Santana never did. Blaine did. He overheard Kurt and Santana talking about the bet and the Rachel-Quinn saga. Blaine didn't get it at first.
Flashback:
"I've never seen anything."
"We were oblivious most of the time too baby."
"Speak for yourself Hummel, I always thought there was more than just an enemy's interaction in there, I mean those girls fights screamed sexual tension."
"I don't know. I'm surprised they are friends now; I remember that time, well that thanksgiving you and Rachel stayed in New York and she didn't seem that much interested in talking with her so called friend."
"That was Quinn being Quinn." Santana explains.
"What did she say?" Kurt gets curious.
"Nothing."
Santana wanted to let it go but Blaine told him every detail of that talk.
Now:
"Tell me!"
"It doesn't matter." Rachel steps in, with sadness in her voice. She heard every word Kurt just vomited in his fury.
All the eyes at the table are about to pop out as they all look at her. Quinn just shrugs.
"Why did you avoid me? I mean, my texts and emails?"
"Rachel, I was in Yale and I was eighteen."
"Why did you take so long to use the metro pass?"
Quinn sighs.
"You know what, don't even bother answering that, and I'll have you know that I had to control myself every time I saw that ticket; I was willing to go to visit you, to visit Yale just to see you, but I knew I should give you space, that I probably would scare you off and you could think I was being annoying and regret being my friend."
"Rach..."
"I have to go; my agent needs me now."
"Wait, we need to talk." Quinn insists.
"I really need to go now, I'll be back later though; I don't know what you guys have planned, but I need you all here." Rachel grins animatedly. "I have an announcement."
"You mean good news?" Brittany asks concerned.
"Yes Britt, I can promise you will love it and I'll see you later guys." she turns to Quinn. "We'll talk later okay." Quinn nods weakly and Rachel leaves the room.
"Fuck!" Quinn whispers.
"The hell Q!" Santana complains. "What is going on?"
"Not now." Quinn grabs her bag and takes her cigarettes. "I'm going outside, Rachel hates smoke's smell." She goes towards the door. "Look, I'm sorry Kurt; I know I crossed the line, I need to fix this thing with Rachel first, because well, I ... uh... we just need to talk okay? I'll be back." Quinn assures and then she leaves.
"I swear, just now I thought she was going to declare her undying love for Berry."
"We don't know that baby."
"What? But B you're the one who convinced me about that."
"No, I told you I always thought they were hot for each other, which totally makes sense now that we know they like girls too. But I never said they had romantic feelings like you and me, but I know Quinn loves her because they are friends, but I don't know." She sighs in confusion.
Santana snorts frustrated.
"By the way, very nice of you to bring that thanksgiving crap back lady Hummel." She complains.
"She was pushing me! What was that anyway? PMS?"
"I don't think so."
"I'm concerned about Rachel."
"Why?" Brittany pouts.
"You know how she can be very insecure. I mean, when it's about her talent she is confident and her ego makes shade in the statue of liberty. However, two years ago I had to bring gaga and Barbra again because some idiot said something about her nose. She can get very insecure when it comes to her appearance and her personality. Quinn somehow has the power to mess with both. There was this one time and please don't ever mention it…"
Brittany and Santana nod as they look at him attentively.
Flashback:
"Oh my God Quinn! Yale is amazing!"
"Isn't it?" Quinn smiles. "But, you already came here. What is different this time?"
"Nothing is different. it's just that I'm more impressed."
Quinn nibbles her bottom lip apprehensively.
"Is something wrong?" Rachel asks.
"No, look you don't have to agree okay? But there is this girl."
Rachel smirks.
"It's not that."
"Okay, so tell me then."
"She keeps hitting on me and flirting with me, but..."
"You don't want it."
"No, I don't and you know how I am, I don't want to be rude."
"I see, so how I can help?"
"I kind of let slip that I'm dating someone, like I have a girlfriend and her name is Rachel, and since I actually know a Rachel, I was just wondering if you would..."
"Why did you tell her your girlfriend's name was Rachel? "Rachel smiles shyly.
"You were texting me, I would've probably said that sugar was my date if she was texting me instead of you."
Rachel nods, but she is still a little disappointed.
"So…" Quinn sighs. "We have a mutual friend, he has a band and tonight…"
"I get it; I have to be your girlfriend tonight."
"Fake girlfriend, but yeah and only if you're okay with this. I can explain to him that I have a friend visiting me here, if this is making you uncomfortable."
"Nonsense, it's just pretending, right?"
"Of course, and we don't have to do anything, I'll just introduce you as my girlfriend and that's all."
After that, Rachel finds herself anxious about the night, she doesn't know exactly why but she wants to be the perfect girlfriend. Fake girlfriend, but nobody needs to know that.
When they are almost approaching Quinn's friends, the blonde takes Rachel's hand and Rachel gasps at the unexpected contact.
What's wrong with you Rachel, you held Quinn's hands before.
She thinks.
"Is this okay?"
"Of course, Quinn."
"Hey everybody!" Quinn greets her friends as she approaches them.
"Quinn!"
A boy who looks like a hipster in Rachel's opinion, hugs Quinn tight. Too tight. Rachel thought. Then Quinn turns to the girl who is on his side.
"Hi Veronica."
"Quinn, please call me Ronnie." Quinn smiles her fake smile. Rachel knows the difference very well. They hug each other.
Rachel doesn't know why she expected a different type. Why she thought Quinn would reject someone because of her appearance? Of course, Quinn wouldn't be that shallow. Well, not anymore, but the fact is that she did not expect this girl. Veronica is pretty, but Rachel can see why Quinn seems completely uninterested. It is like some Jewish, brunette, short and annoying diva wanted to date Rachel.
But despite the similarity there are a lot differences. Quinn is always modesty about her looks and veronica is the kind of girl that throws their beauty in people's faces. Veronica is pretty, but Quinn is the prettiest.
The prettiest girl yeah, yeah, yeah you say that a lot…
Because it's true. Are you talking to yourself in your head? God! You're a freak, you will embarrass Quinn.
Veronica stares at Rachel, raking over her body, up and down and Rachel notices, the singer locks their eyes onto each other in challenge.
"This is Rachel, my girlfriend and Rachel this is veronica and this is Thomas."
"Hi, nice to meet you both." Rachel hugs the boy tenderly and veronica coldly, making Quinn smirk.
"Listen, girls I gotta go."
"Okay, good luck Tom." Veronica hugs the boy.
"Break a leg!" Rachel says and Quinn rolls her eyes.
"Rachel is a singer."
"Really?"
"I guess you can say that."
"Rach sweetheart, no need to be modest, which is weird by the way. Rachel is in NYADA she's on her way to Broadway."
"You're just saying that."
"No, I'm not."
"Broadway huh?" Thomas smirks.
"Someday." Rachel giggles.
"Can you sing something we mere mortal usually sing?" He asks, scheming and Rachel laughs.
"Sure, I can sing anything."
"And ... She is back ladies and gentlemen." Quinn teases.
Veronica seems annoyed with their interaction.
"Let's see if you really can sing anything."
"I'm not liking it, what are you plotting in this head of yours?" Quinn asks the boy.
"Nothing, bye girls!" He is plotting something indeed.
Rachel was enjoying the band, they played some originals songs, some covers, most of Coldplay and then Thomas was calling her name. Suddenly, everybody was cheering her. She couldn't refuse it. When Rachel berry would've refused a stage?
"You said you could sing anything." Thomas says as she gets up on stage.
"The question is, can you guys follow my lead?" Rachel teases. "What do you have in mind?"
"I put you in this, so it's only fair if you choose?"
"Okay, I noticed that you guys enjoy Coldplay so…"
Quinn sees Rachel and Thomas interacting and she can't help but think that the boy is about to be amazed. She wasn't even paying attention to some of the comment Veronica made and then Rachel starts singing.
Honey you are a rock
Upon which I stand
And I come here to talk
I hope you understand
.
And then Rachel is the performer.
The green eyes
Yeah the spotlight
Shines upon you
How could anybody deny you?
.
It amazes Quinn how Rachel puts all her heart in every performance.
.
I came here with a load
And it feels so much lighter
Now I've met you
And honey you should know
That I could never go on
Without you
Green eyes
.
From the stage, Rachel stares at Quinn and the blonde notices Veronica's annoyance.
"God! Rachel is good, I hope now veronica gives up… I am almost convinced. Haha! Right, Rachel in love with me and serenading me sure." Quinn thinks as she watches Rachel.
Honey you are the sea
Upon which I float
And I came here to talk
I think you should know
.
The green eyes
You're the one that
I wanted to find
Anyone who
Tried to deny you
Must be out of their mind
'Cause I came here with a load
And it feels so much lighter
Since I've met you
And honey you should know
That I could never go home
Without you
Green eyes
Green eyes
ohohohoh
Honey you are a rock
Upon which I stand.
As Rachel finishes the song, she receives the audience's ovations with a big smile plastered to her face.
"You are a great singer indeed." Veronica tells her when Quinn leaves them to take some drinks.
Rachel knows what the girl is about to do. She can feel the jealousy. But there's nothing to be afraid of. She is not dating Quinn. The girl can't say anything painful. Maybe it'll be just fun. Rachel decides to play along.
"I know, right?"
"I should've known that there would be something special about you. I mean look at her."
Rachel shrugs as she hears it.
"Quinn is so much more than just a pretty face though."
"I know that…" The blonde smiles. "That's why when I saw you I thought: she gotta be kidding me! No offense, but she can to do so much better."
Rachel freezes, she doesn't know what to say, it's high school again and all her insecurities comes back at once.
"I'm back sweetie." Quinn smiles at her and Rachel smiles too, but the damage has already been done.
Now:
"One week, it took a week for her to come back to normal."
"Quinn told me that. I mean, not with all the details, but I remember her telling me that Berry was a great actress because her performance was very good and Rachel fooled everybody, because she really looked like she was in love."
Santana explains as Kurt smirks.
"Their blindness level amazes me."
"I know, right?" Santana sighs frustrated.
When Quinn gets inside the apartment, the first thing she hears is Rachel's laugh. Then she goes towards the group gathered in the living room. Mercedes, Tina and Blaine are there too.
"Where have you been?" Santana asks.
"Just walking around."
Quinn looks at Rachel and the singer looks at her hand.
Oh crap!
Rachel feigns indifference.
"Oh God Rachel! Say something!" Quinn raises her voice. "I know you don't like when I smoke but..." She says in a kind way this time.
"It's your life."
"Are you still mad at me?"
"We'll talk about that later."
Rachel says resolute as Quinn sighs.
"As I said before I have an announcement to make." She beams.
"Spit it Berry!" Santana says, getting impatient.
"I'm going to move to L.A.!"
"What?" Kurt and Tina say at the same time.
"But you love New York." He adds.
"I know Kurt, but with all the shows I'll be doing in the next months it won't make much difference."
"Of course, it will. I…New York won't be the same without you."
"He is right Rach, why do you have to move?" Blaine whines.
"It's my career, I've been avoiding it for months and you guys know that; but I don't have more excuses with the musical being over and this won't be forever. There's no way I'm going to be away from Broadway forever, but now I have this new dream and I want you guys to support me."
"Of course, we do!" Kurt hugs her. "Right, Tina?"
"Of course! I'm going to miss you though." Tina hugs her too and then Blaine joins them.
"Okay, now that the New York people dealt with their drama, can we celebrate the fact that Rachel is one of us now?" Santana says lively.
"Come on girl!" Mercedes beams as Brittany lifts her in the air. Watching the scene Quinn can't contain her smile.
"When will you go?" Blaine asks.
"Next week."
"Where are you staying?" The blonde actress asks nibbling on her bottom lip. Rachel looks at her with a smirk on her face.
"I don't know. My manager is dealing with this stuff and I think they will get me a house till I find something I'd like to buy."
"No way, you'll stay with me. I won't let you stay in a random house."
"It's not…"
"You will stay with me and that is final." Quinn says resolute as she cuts Rachel off.
"Everything is great, but boys we have to go 'cause I can't lose my flight. Rachel, I will see you in L.A, I guess." Rachel smiles and hugs Mercedes tenderly.
"We have to go too Berry, Brittany has routines and more filming tomorrow so…"
"You guys can stay here, you know that, right?"
"I know." Santana kisses Rachel forehead. "But hey! You're going to L.A and we will hang out so much that you will get tired of us."
"It'll be more like the other way around."
"Probably." The Latina teases.
"That's more like you."
"Don't let her fool you Rachel. She is happy that you're moving to our city." Santana rolls her eyes and Brittany kisses her girlfriend's cheek sweetly.
"Q, call us when you're leaving okay?"
Quinn nods, and Rachel says goodbye to everyone.
As they all leave Rachel returns to the living room, where she finds Quinn with a cushion pressed against her face. Rachel can't help it but smile.
"So…" She interrupts Quinn self-deprecation moment and the blonde gasps.
"Rachel, I'm sorry. You have all right to be mad at me, but that was me being me and I was eighteen and I was excited about Yale."
"Do you remember senior prom?"
"Yeah why?"
"I know that we won nationals and I got NYADA, but your friendship is still the accomplishment I'm most proud of. It hurts to know that you don't feel the same."
"How can you say that?"
"I don't know Quinn."
Rachel says unsure and Quinn sighs.
"You said I didn't know what I meant to you." The blonde says sweetly.
"What?"
"Senior prom Rach."
"I did."
"I have to say the same to you. You don't know what you mean to me."
She points out as Rachel frowns.
"The truth is that you pushed me when I needed the most. You made me believe in myself and I'd probably be married to Finn by now, I mean no offense by that."
She says mockingly and Rachel rolls her eyes.
"You wouldn't, he chose me anyway."
"Really?" Quinn gives her the raised eyebrow look. "Everything I just said and you got that?"
"You are forgiven Fabray."
"How noble of you."
"It is, right?"
"Are we good?"
"You are stuck with me Quinn."
"Promise?" Quinn asks with shining eyes.
Rachel nods happily.
"So, we will be living together?"
"Yep."
"Are you sure? I mean, it's me we're talking about."
"I know and that's a good thing."
"Ass-kisser." Rachel mumbles.
"Yours? Even though you do have a nice ass, but no thanks."
"I know you wanted to do a pun, but I have to say that that was pretty weird."
Quinn rolls her eyes this time.
"So, ice cream and a movie?" Rachel suggests.
"Sounds great, but you won't make me watch Funny girl, will you?"
"No, I could, but I won't and you choose. I'll go get the ice cream; meet in my bedroom." Rachel kisses her cheek and goes to the kitchen.
When Rachel gets in her bedroom, the movie is already in the DVD. Quinn takes the ice cream and the spoons as Rachel settles on the bed.
"Just nice?"
"What?" Quinn asks with her mouth full.
"My ass."
The blonde laughs for five minutes non-stop as Rachel ignores her and focuses her attention on the movie.