Chapter 13: You Can't Always Believe what you Hear

Quinn didn't know how to interpret all that she heard and saw. Was Rachel Berry going to drop off of her pedestal and join the ranks of the fallen? She watched the way she acted in glee and around school. Rachel thought she was better than everyone and believed she was perfect in every way, but that proved she was human. Of course, Quinn wasn't sure what she heard. Rachel could've been sick. Hell, she could've even been hung-over, but it also could've been morning sickness. She wouldn't spread rumors… yet. There was still a little snooping to do, maybe a confrontation to have. But if there were any more clues that supported her conclusion, she'd have no qualms about spilling the beans to the entire school. In fact, she'd enjoy watching it all unfold. She felt it'd be justice for everything Rachel had done to her; for telling Finn the truth about Puck and Beth, for wanting Finn and making a move for him while they were still together… For everything.

She watched Rachel as much as she could for the rest of the day, waiting for the perfect time to confront her and get the real story out of her. Unfortunately, Rachel was really skilled in avoidance and managed to keep hidden for the most of the day, but there was no hiding in glee. She'd have to get her to talk there, but she'd have to be alone. She'd figure all the details out later.

Rachel was trying to hide, not just from Quinn, but everyone. She knew Quinn wouldn't keep her secret so she was just waiting for the news to hit and the gossip to spread. Then the few people who weren't already looking at her funny would join in the mockery. In reality, most people just ignored Rachel. There were no looks, no gossip, and, unless it was really juicy, to the rest of the student population, Rachel didn't even register as a blip on their radar. Just like that morning when she thought they were all looking at her and listening to Kurt's outburst, the reality was that they all just wanted to know who that squeaky noise called a voice belonged to. They didn't actually care about the lowly members of the food chain.

She was so anxious for the rest of the day that she barely paid attention in class and she was literally craving a release. Her legs were shaking and she kept tapping her fingers, but it was an itch she couldn't scratch. She already got caught once that day, could she risk it again? Although she knew she shouldn't, she had to. Raising her hand, she impatiently waited for permission to leave. Once she got it, she grabbed all her things I anticipation of the last bell ringing and exited the room. Eating some cut up fruit she had in her bag, she rushed to the same bathroom from before, this time checking to make sure no one would find her.

It was a most welcomed release. But the urge was still there. She tried to force more out, but she really didn't have anything left inside her body. And, on top of that, she needed to get to glee. Being late was not an option, but neither was being early. She didn't want to risk being alone with Quinn at any point in time for any amount of time.

Rachel took her time getting to glee. She wanted to make sure at least a few other people were there before she went in. When she got to the door Mr. Schue and Shelby had the place looking like a wardrobe department. It made sense. Sectionals were two weeks away and costumes were necessary. She assumed fittings and alterations were that day's assignment. That would explain the older woman standing next to the pair of teachers. Rachel didn't really care though; she just wanted to go home. So, she waited a little longer before going in. Quinn wasn't there when she sat down away from the rest of the early arrivals. She really just needed to sit and sulk in her own thoughts.

"Ok guys, sectionals are in just under two weeks. Today we have to do a fitting to make sure the outfits still work." Mr. Schue started after all the members arrived. "Ok, boys, come get your outfits first. Head to the bathroom or the locker rooms, try them on and head back here. Ms. Corcoran and will be making the adjustments." All the boys clumsily and loudly made their way over to the hanging garment bags and looked for the one with his name on it. Once they were all done and out of the room, Schue gave the girls their turn. Rachel hung back and let everyone else go first. She didn't really want to do it. She had been wearing clothes that mainly covered her up. She didn't want to showcase how fat she was. It wasn't something she was looking forward to.

"Come on Rachel. What are you waiting for?" Shelby asked.

"Sorry, I'm going." Reluctantly grabbing the last hanging bag, Rachel slowly made her way to the locker room. By the time she got there, most of the girls were already gone. She assumed that all the boys were already in the process of being tailored and she just wanted to take as much time as she could. There were clothes scattered everywhere when she walked in. She passed by the few remaining members that were taking their time with the dresses and walked to the furthest, most secluded dressing area she could. If she had to subject everyone to her disgusting body in that outfit, she was at least going to spare them the visual of changing with them in the common area.

What she failed to notice, was Quinn's watchful eye. She was waiting for her moment to strike and catch Rachel in some sort of similar situation as earlier; either that or for the rest of the people in the room to leave so she could ask the diva about her little episode. Already changed herself, Quinn watched as one by one her teammates left and finally gave her the opening she'd been waiting for.

It was taking Rachel so long that Quinn became way to impatient. "Rachel, what are you doing in there? How long does it take you to change?"

"Quinn?" She asked, surprised. Obviously they weren't just going to forget about the incident. "Why are you still in here?"

"Come on Man Hands, we need to talk."

Through the thin curtain, in an attempt to stay hidden from the rest of the world, Rachel spoke. "I don't know what there is we need to talk about. As far as I'm concerned we never have to say another word to one another and I'd be just fine."

"I feel the same way."

"Good, so it's mutual and you may depart now and leave me be." Quinn let out an exaggerated huff. She just wanted a little information. Why was Rachel making that so difficult?

"Are you decent?"

"Excuse me?" Rachel snapped/

"Dressed Rachel, are you dressed?" Quinn corrected, although not really seeing the fault in the question.

"I am clothed yes. What do you want Quinn." Once she heard the drawn out version of a 'yes,' Quinn pulled the curtain open revealing a withered Rachel, cowered down on the corner of the bench. "What are you doing? Really Quinn, what's your problem?"

"I didn't want to talk through a plastic sheet."

"Well I don't want to talk at all." Rachel tried to storm past Quinn, but felt a hand tightly grasp her own.

"Rachel, we should talk about earlier." The panicked thoughts started to race again. She was really hoping that was just a long forgotten memory. Why did she want to discuss it? Couldn't well enough be left alone for a change? She wanted her secrets to stay hidden and buried deep within the concaves of her own mind, safe from the impurities of the world that threatened to taint its utter perfection. She wouldn't let Quinn ruin the one good thing in her life. That was out of the question. And no matter what she had to do, how many lies she had to tell, she'd protect it with all she had. It was her lifeline and losing it just wouldn't work.

"I have no idea what you mean. Bow let go of me please." She said pulling her arm from the blonde's grasp.

"Yes you do Rachel." Quinn could easily see the fear in Rachel's eyes. She assumed it resembled hers when she realized she was pregnant. She also realized that she was doing a whole lot of assuming and had yet to get any confirmation. But did she really need it? One conveniently placed rumor and the truth would be forced out anyway. "Talk to me… I've been where you are." Good job Quinn, coax it out of her.

"You have no idea what you're talking about. You don't know anything about me. You don't even care about me, so what's with all the false concern?" Throw her off… Change the subject. She'd do almost anything to get Quinn to leave her alone. She felt like a tiny rodent waiting to be feasted on by the snake. Her chances of escape were minimal, but that didn't mean she shouldn't have at least tried.

Quinn decided to ignore the question and continue pressing the issue. She was going to get her to admit she made the same stupid mistake and make her suffer the same way she did. "Who's is it Rachel?"

"What?" All the panic left her body. Quinn thought she was pregnant… Her secret was still safe. She didn't know if the former was better or worse than the actual facts. Would she rather be thought of as the pregnant chick or the crazy girl with the upchuck issues? At least people would eventually realize she wasn't pregnant. Yeah, she should go with that one. It was the safer option.

"You're pregnant." It wasn't a question, or Quinn assumed it wasn't. She was positive that was what was going on. But watching the dramatic change in Rachel's facial expressions made her doubt that. She so quickly went from completely horrified apprehension to a sense of relief and, what appeared to be, happiness. She didn't understand it at all. Was there something worse than being a pregnant teen in Lima? What kind of secret could be bigger than that? "Who's the father?"

"That's what you think?"

"Of course it is. Why else would you be throwing up in the middle of the day?" In reality, she knew there were still about a hundred other plausible explanations, but that was the one she wanted it to be. She didn't want to be the only Lima loser to lose everything because of one night.

"I could have cancer." That definitely wasn't what she wanted to say. It was a terrible thing to say and she regretted the thought, but it a moment of verbal vomit, it just came out.

"Do you have cancer?"

"No, but that just proves the point that there are a multitude of possibilities to why I could've been vomiting. However, I don't think you understand what you heard. I have no recollection of said incident. I have not been sick today." Lies, and obvious ones at that, but the opening was there and she took it.

"Jesus RuPaul! Just stop lying!" Quinn exploded. She wasn't getting the answers she was looking for and she was tired of playing the Rachel game. "I know you're pregnant. It's obvious." She didn't know how much that comment, that lie, would affect Rachel. If she were being truthful, she would've seen that Rachel was practically swimming in the dress they ordered not two months earlier and that she was, while not quite knocking on death's door thin, definitely on the thinner side. But she saw what she wanted to see and if she didn't she pretended to and made enough up to prove her point. "I mean look at you. You already have a bump forming. It's not at all cute on you, by the way." Rachel wanted to scream or cry or maybe both. She knew it was true. She was so incredibly fat she didn't even understand how anyone could bear to look at her. Her eyes immediately diverted from Quinn and she looked down at her stomach. It was huge, monstrous. How could anyone stand to be near her? Quinn watched for a second, unsure what was happening, but ready to push further if she didn't get some sort of confession soon.

Meanwhile, as that conversation was taking place, the rest of the glee members were finishing up with their fittings. Between Shelby and Ms. Taylor, the ironic tailor, the fitting was going by fairly quickly. The boys had been easy. A few jackets had to be let out a little, a few pants hemmed, but nothing major. So they were no problems getting through that motley crew. The girls, on the other hand, were a different story. Naturally, their weight fluctuated and they generally hated the whole measuring process. So, in kind words, they were a pain. But as Shelby finished up with Tina's fitting, she gazed around the room. Where was Quinn? And where was Rachel? If they were together, she knew from stories about their past, that it probably wasn't the most civil of times. On top of that, she was worried. Rachel seemed off that day, sluggish and sad. She wanted to say that her daughter had been quieter than normal, and that would've been a fair assessment, but it was the new normal. She'd been quiet since their deaths and even more so after the move. Maybe she was sick again. She didn't want a repeat hospital visit. Child Services would probably pay her a visit if that happened. There was just a lot to worry about when it came to Rachel.

"Will?" She asked in an attempt to pull his attention away from whatever sheet music he was staring at. "Have you seen Rachel?"

Before answering, he looked around the room. Obviously, she wasn't there. "I don't think she came back yet." Looking at his watch, he continued, "It has been a while though. She should've been back by now."

"Quinn's not here either." He looked around again, this time to confirm her words.

"That's never good."

"I didn't think so." The words were obviously laced with worry.

"Has anyone seen Rachel or Quinn?" He put the question out to the group of outcasts. They would know where they were or at least where to look. Watching all the reactions, Shelby and Will just got a bunch of head shakes. No one saw them? Really?

"The last I saw them was when I left the locker rooms." Mercedes offered the first lead.

"Q and Yenta…" Receiving Shelby's confused, yet head snapping, glare, Santana corrected herself. "Quinn was changing when we all left and Rachel was just coming in."

"Mercedes, go tell them to hurry up. We're almost done with everyone else and no one's leaving here until everyone has been fitted." It wasn't a request, it was a demand. Mercedes knew that and didn't question it at all.

Leaving the others behind, Mercedes followed her orders. She knew nobody ignored a Coach Corcoran order unless they wanted an intense stare down and the rest of the club to hate them because of the intense and boot camp like rehearsal that would undoubtedly ensue. The hallway was empty and quiet, for the most part. But as she got closer to the locker room, she could hear rumblings of raised voices. She couldn't make out the words, and she very well was going to try, but she could tell that it was a Quinn and Rachel fight. That much was obvious. The only question was whether she wanted to storm in and break it up right away or get close enough to hear and eavesdrop a little first. She went with the latter. Anyone else would've done the same.

The fight continued, both girls unaware of Mercedes approaching presence. "I will not stand here and listen to such wildly libelous accusations on your part. Not everyone is you Quinn. Not everyone makes your mistakes." She tried to keep a level head. Her heart really wasn't into the fight. At that moment, all she wanted to do was release the nothing that was in her stomach and run or dance or work the elliptical until the lightheadedness freed her from her feelings and took over as the world turned a familiar shade of black. The shouting match wasn't doing anything for her needs. But giving in to her dark thoughts, she missed the chord being ripped and Quinn's curiosity turned to anger.

"You little bitch!" She almost lunged at her, but she stopped herself. "I was trying to help you." It was a pack of lies, but Rachel didn't know that. Or so she thought…

"No Quinn. You were just trying to help yourself. Everything is always about you. Anything to make you feel better about the choices you've made and the life you've led. But I'm not going to be your patsy. You can think what you want Quinn, but not everyone has a bad day and gets drunk on wine coolers and ultimately gets impregnated by their boyfriend's best friend all while in high school." The calm of Rachel's tone wasn't helping Quinn keep herself calm as well. Although Rachel didn't say anything that wasn't true, facing the truth of her words just made Quinn angrier. And so, she snapped.

"Maybe I did make some bad choices, but at least I have a mom who loves me." She decided to neglect the short period of disownment. "My mom doesn't pity me and take care of me just because my other parents died. Your fathers probably killed themselves just to get away from you. God knows no one else can stand you. They probably couldn't look at your disgusting face anymore. How long will it be before Shelby leaves you too?" Quinn smiled at the defeat written all over Rachel's face. Her eyes were near tears and her body threatened to shake from violent sobs. Quinn had won, but had she really? She didn't get the sense of accomplishment she was searching for. She couldn't understand why yet.

Neither girl noticed when Mercedes finally opened the door, catching that last cut from Quinn. "That's enough. Mr. Schue and Ms. Corcoran are looking for you. You need to get your fitting done." Although slightly startled from the voice, Quinn and Rachel never ceased to lock eyes, both looking like they had something left to say. "Come on. Let's go." Mercedes demanded, but Rachel had to say one last thing.

"You can think whatever you want Quinn. You can tell people whatever you want because I know the truth and that's what matters." Again with the lies. She knew whatever rumors would come out would crush her. But it was that or her secret and she wasn't ready to lose her vice. "So do what you need to get all the way to the top, to make yourself feel better because I don't care." She had a few choice words she wanted to add after the because, but that was neither here nor there. She had to control herself, be the bigger person. Because she was, literally, the bigger person. "But don't for one second think that you know me or anything about me. So just leave me alone." And just like that, before anyone could say another word, in true Diva fashion, she stormed out and left a bewildered Mercedes and a quiet Quinn behind. After a moment to collect herself, Quinn followed in Rachel's footsteps back to the classroom.

Rachel tried to pull herself together on the way back to the choir room. No tears allowed, no emotion should be felt; she wasn't going to let Quinn get to her. All she had to do was think that her secret was still safe and the sense of doom, at least, lessened. It was still there, and anyone who looked at her could see that she was wearing her show face, the glassy eyes were a dead give away, but she'd be able to continue with her only sense of relief the world offered her. And it was something she desperately needed at that moment as Quinn's words ran through her head over and over.

She was so out of it that she hadn't even noticed she arrived at her destination and was standing in front of her mother waiting to be fitted. "Do you want to talk about it?" Shelby asked, seeing right through the half assed smile and dimly lit eyes. Something obviously happened.

"I just want to get this over with and go to dance class." Shelby nodded and got to work, for the first time noticing that Rachel was thinner than she expected and the dress was nowhere near the size it should've been. Maybe they ordered the wrong size? Her thoughts were cut short by the sound of the door slamming open. Both her and Rachel snapped their heads in that direction.

Quinn, arms crossed and scowl faced, walked right into the room, ignoring the questioning looks and odd stares, especially the Corcoran glare Rachel inherited from her mother. She never saw that on her face before. Behind her was Mercedes struggling to get the girl to listen to her. She had been trying since they left the locker room, but Quinn stayed stone faced and silent the entire way. Again, she followed the blonde to the empty, and more secluded, chairs by the piano. Sitting next to her, she waited for a less angry look to take over the cheerleader's face. When she realized that wasn't going to happen, she just took her chances.

"Now can you tell me what that was about?" Mercedes, quietly, questioned for the umpteenth time, finally getting enough of Quinn's attention for the girl to actually hear her. Quinn turned to her before answering. She didn't know if it was true, and if she really took the time to push through her anger and piece the clues together, she'd know it wasn't, but at that moment, the anger and everything bad thing she ever felt for Rachel just forced the words out.

"Rachel's pregnant." And thus, the rumor mill began…

I'm sorry about the prolonged wait. I think this has been the longest interlude between updates. What can I say, life happens.

As always, I apologize for any mistakes in Grammar or spelling. It happens…

This is not my favorite chapter. It didn't come out at all like I envisioned in my mind, but still, enjoy it nonetheless. Next chapter is Sectionals. I have quite a few ideas for that, haven't decided which one to go with, but I think I know which I'm leaning toward. So, until next time…

I want to say that I'm so grateful for all of the wonderful comments. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorited, and/or added this to their alerts. Don't be afraid to tell me what you think or if there's anything you'd like to see happen.