fic: Sight (3/?)
Title: Sight (3/?)
Author: awkwardllama
Rating: PG-13
Length: 1,505
Spoilers: None for now.
Disclaimer: I don’t own anything but the story.
Summary: AU. Rachel learns to see from someone who can't.
“Hey Rachel, is something the matter? You haven’t said a word all night.” Rachel jumps. On the other side of the booth, Brittany and Quinn are both looking at her with confused faces.
Santana snickers, “Well yeah. She’s been too busy staring at-“ She chokes when an elbow slams into her stomach. “Staring at the waitress! Yeah! The waitress…” Her voice falters when Rachel and Brittany both glare at her.
“Oh? Why? Is she pretty?” There is an almost indecipherable look on Quinn’s face. Brittany picks up on it and gestures frantically at Rachel while she mouths Fix this!
Rachel stutters, “No-no. I was just admiring the uniform she’s wearing.”
“Oh.” Quinn answers.
Rachel opens her mouth to speak, but is interrupted. “Quinn?! Quinn Fabray! Oh my god! You didn't tell me you were back already.” Jesse St. James comes bounding up to the table. He pulls Quinn out of her seat, tugging her into his arms.
She wraps her arms around him in a comfortable embrace. “Jesse!”
Rachel grits her teeth and glares up at him. “St. James.” The girl she has a crush on was friends with her mortal enemy?
He glares back. “Berry.” He glances around the table. “Cheerleaders.” He looks down at Quinn, an arm still wrapped around her waist. “How do you know her?” He says it with a hint of disgust in his voice.
Rachel returns the sentiment. “Yeah Quinn. How do you know him?” Santana looks absolutely delighted by this exchange.
“I come to Lima every summer for break and Aunt Sue enrolled me in Carmel’s summer music program. That’s where I met Jesse.” She beams at him and Rachel seethes.
Brittany inquires, “How come you never went to McKinley’s? Isn’t it closer to Coach Sylvester’s house?”
Jesse scoffs. “That program is pathetic. It’s run by a fat, balding man who doesn’t know the difference between Rent and La boheme.” Rachel shrugs. Okay. She could give him that. “The rest of the gang is here. You should come over and say hi.” Oh no. She couldn’t give him that.
“Really? Wow. Could I?” She turns towards Rachel and the hope on her face melts Rachel’s heart. She gives a weak consent and Jesse steers Quinn towards a table on the other side of the restaurant.
As soon as they are out of earshot, Rachel crushes a few thin breadsticks in her hand. “I hate him! Him and his stupid handsome face!”
Brittany frowns then she shrugs. “He is pretty attractive and from what we’ve seen, he’s a good performer.”
“A good performer? He’s the lead singer of Vocal Adrenaline! Don’t tell anyone I said this but he’s great.” She drops her face into her hands. “I don’t stand a chance.”
Santana scoffs and slams her fork down on the table. “Oh hell no. You’re Rachel fucking Berry aren’t you? Are you going to let some fruity Vocal Adrenaline boy get you down? No. Let me tell you what you’re going to do. As soon as Quinn gets back here you’re going to go all out. Slap her in the face with the full Berry. She’s going to fall so in love with you she won’t even know what hit her.” She is panting by the time she finishes speaking. Brittany looks at her in awe.
Rachel looks stunned and then inspired. “Yes! I’m Rachel Berry! Nothing can stop me!” She gives Brittany and Santana high-fives.
Brittany tilts her head. “You two are so hot right now.” Rachel blushes.
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Rachel’s go-get-em attitude doesn’t stay long. She starts to mope when Quinn is still with Jesse twenty minutes later. Santana has moved to the other side of the booth and she and Brittany have started making out. “Could you two not do that? You’re making me and every other patron of this restaurant uncomfortable.”
Their lips break apart with a smack. Brittany gasps when Santana presses her lips to her neck. “Sorry Rach.” She smacks weakly at Santana’s shoulders.
Santana pulls away. Berry’s just jealous. There’s no one here besides us and them.” She points at Vocal Adrenaline and Rachel heaves another sigh when she sees how well Quinn fits in with them. She starts when Brittany and Santana both scoot out of the booth and excuse themselves to go to the bathroom, leaving her alone in the booth.
She’s only alone for a second before a shadow appears over her. She looks up and beams when she sees Quinn standing in front of the table. “Hey.”
Quinn responds in a quiet, raspy tone, “Jesse said you were alone. Where’d the others go?”
“They went to the bathroom. I think I was bumming them out. Take a seat. Unless you’re going to head back over to Jesse’s table.” She heaves a quiet sigh.
Quinn smiles and slides into the booth. “I’ve had enough of them for the night. Besides I was supposed to hang out with you tonight.” She reaches out and grabs Rachel’s hand. Rachel’s returning smile radiates on her face. It drops when Jesse approaches the table again.
“Hey Quinn. We’re gonna get going.” He reaches down to give her a tight hug, smirking over her shoulder at Rachel. She pokes her tongue out in response. “Don’t forget to give me a call okay babe?”
Quinn presses a quick kiss to his cheek. “I promise.” Rachel frowns.
As soon as Jesse is gone, Brittany and Santana return to the table. Santana says, “B wants ice cream.” And that is that.
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Brittany pulls Quinn towards the counter, excitedly pointed out her favorite flavors. “Well bubble gum tastes best, but vanilla looks especially good on Santana’s skin…” Her voice trails off as Quinn laughs. “What?”
Santana pulls Rachel back behind them. “What’s up Berry? You’re being freakishly quiet.”
Rachel sighs. “Quinn and Jesse look close don’t they? I mean I never even thought about whether or not she’s straight. We just assumed she had feelings for me. What if she doesn’t? What if this whole thing ends up as a huge embarrassment?”
“Well you’re already a huge embarrassment so don’t worry.” Rachel glares. “Just kidding Berry chill. Don’t worry about that. Quinn likes you okay? And don’t worry about Jesse either. Even if he has the hots for her, she thinks of him as a friend. I can tell.”
Rachel’s shoulders sag. “Okay. I’ll trust your judgments.”
“Good. Now let’s go get some ice cream.”
“Do they have anything vegan? Because I refuse to eat anything unrightfully taken from a cow.”
“Ugh. We’ll find something.”
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Rachel and Quinn are sitting alone at a bench in a local park. Rachel watches as Brittany and Santana feed the remnants of an ice cream cone to ducks in a small pond. Quinn suddenly speaks. “Jesse and I were never a thing. If you were wondering.” Her eyes are penetrating and Rachel feels herself blushing.
“What? No. I wasn’t. Why would I be? Okay fine I was. You two seem really close you know?” She rubs her palms together nervously.
Quinn smiles fondly. “He’s my best friend. I’ve known him for almost my entire life. He’s been there for me when no one else has. But that’s it. He’s like the brother I never had. Or really wanted actually.” She lets out a light laugh. “He’s harmless. He might seem like a pompous ass sometimes, but all he really wants is to get out of Lima.”
Rachel smiles. “I guess there’s finally something we have in common.”
“You mean besides ridiculous talent and extremely good looks?” Quinn looks at her with hooded eyes. Rachel gulps.
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They pull up to the house. Rachel is quickly volunteered to walk Quinn to the front door. They stand awkwardly in front of the door before Quinn quickly wraps her arms around Rachel and pulls her close. “Mmm…So next Friday?”
Rachel hesitantly asks, “What about next Friday?”
“Our first date? I’m not counting this one because it kind of sucked and you seem like someone who wants everything to be perfect. So I’m giving you a week to plan. When you weren’t being sad and mopey, I had a really nice time with you.” She cups Rachel’s face in her hands and looks into her eyes. “I was going to wait, but I don’t think I can.”
Rachel stutters, “Wait? Wait for-“ She is interrupted by a soft pair of lips. She is shocked, but she quickly responds, wrapping her arms around Quinn’s waist. She whimpers when Quinn’s tongue swipes against her bottom lip. When they break apart, Quinn licks her lips and swipes her thumb over Rachel’s chin.
“I’ll see you on Monday. Don’t turn around okay?” Quinn squeezes her one more time and heads into the house.
As Rachel walks down the pathway, she does a tiny happy dance. She gives a quick look over the shoulder and flinches when she sees Sue Sylvester standing in the exact same position she had been in when they’d left earlier. Rachel shivers.
Author: awkwardllama
Rating: PG-13
Length: 1,505
Spoilers: None for now.
Disclaimer: I don’t own anything but the story.
Summary: AU. Rachel learns to see from someone who can't.
“Hey Rachel, is something the matter? You haven’t said a word all night.” Rachel jumps. On the other side of the booth, Brittany and Quinn are both looking at her with confused faces.
Santana snickers, “Well yeah. She’s been too busy staring at-“ She chokes when an elbow slams into her stomach. “Staring at the waitress! Yeah! The waitress…” Her voice falters when Rachel and Brittany both glare at her.
“Oh? Why? Is she pretty?” There is an almost indecipherable look on Quinn’s face. Brittany picks up on it and gestures frantically at Rachel while she mouths Fix this!
Rachel stutters, “No-no. I was just admiring the uniform she’s wearing.”
“Oh.” Quinn answers.
Rachel opens her mouth to speak, but is interrupted. “Quinn?! Quinn Fabray! Oh my god! You didn't tell me you were back already.” Jesse St. James comes bounding up to the table. He pulls Quinn out of her seat, tugging her into his arms.
She wraps her arms around him in a comfortable embrace. “Jesse!”
Rachel grits her teeth and glares up at him. “St. James.” The girl she has a crush on was friends with her mortal enemy?
He glares back. “Berry.” He glances around the table. “Cheerleaders.” He looks down at Quinn, an arm still wrapped around her waist. “How do you know her?” He says it with a hint of disgust in his voice.
Rachel returns the sentiment. “Yeah Quinn. How do you know him?” Santana looks absolutely delighted by this exchange.
“I come to Lima every summer for break and Aunt Sue enrolled me in Carmel’s summer music program. That’s where I met Jesse.” She beams at him and Rachel seethes.
Brittany inquires, “How come you never went to McKinley’s? Isn’t it closer to Coach Sylvester’s house?”
Jesse scoffs. “That program is pathetic. It’s run by a fat, balding man who doesn’t know the difference between Rent and La boheme.” Rachel shrugs. Okay. She could give him that. “The rest of the gang is here. You should come over and say hi.” Oh no. She couldn’t give him that.
“Really? Wow. Could I?” She turns towards Rachel and the hope on her face melts Rachel’s heart. She gives a weak consent and Jesse steers Quinn towards a table on the other side of the restaurant.
As soon as they are out of earshot, Rachel crushes a few thin breadsticks in her hand. “I hate him! Him and his stupid handsome face!”
Brittany frowns then she shrugs. “He is pretty attractive and from what we’ve seen, he’s a good performer.”
“A good performer? He’s the lead singer of Vocal Adrenaline! Don’t tell anyone I said this but he’s great.” She drops her face into her hands. “I don’t stand a chance.”
Santana scoffs and slams her fork down on the table. “Oh hell no. You’re Rachel fucking Berry aren’t you? Are you going to let some fruity Vocal Adrenaline boy get you down? No. Let me tell you what you’re going to do. As soon as Quinn gets back here you’re going to go all out. Slap her in the face with the full Berry. She’s going to fall so in love with you she won’t even know what hit her.” She is panting by the time she finishes speaking. Brittany looks at her in awe.
Rachel looks stunned and then inspired. “Yes! I’m Rachel Berry! Nothing can stop me!” She gives Brittany and Santana high-fives.
Brittany tilts her head. “You two are so hot right now.” Rachel blushes.
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Rachel’s go-get-em attitude doesn’t stay long. She starts to mope when Quinn is still with Jesse twenty minutes later. Santana has moved to the other side of the booth and she and Brittany have started making out. “Could you two not do that? You’re making me and every other patron of this restaurant uncomfortable.”
Their lips break apart with a smack. Brittany gasps when Santana presses her lips to her neck. “Sorry Rach.” She smacks weakly at Santana’s shoulders.
Santana pulls away. Berry’s just jealous. There’s no one here besides us and them.” She points at Vocal Adrenaline and Rachel heaves another sigh when she sees how well Quinn fits in with them. She starts when Brittany and Santana both scoot out of the booth and excuse themselves to go to the bathroom, leaving her alone in the booth.
She’s only alone for a second before a shadow appears over her. She looks up and beams when she sees Quinn standing in front of the table. “Hey.”
Quinn responds in a quiet, raspy tone, “Jesse said you were alone. Where’d the others go?”
“They went to the bathroom. I think I was bumming them out. Take a seat. Unless you’re going to head back over to Jesse’s table.” She heaves a quiet sigh.
Quinn smiles and slides into the booth. “I’ve had enough of them for the night. Besides I was supposed to hang out with you tonight.” She reaches out and grabs Rachel’s hand. Rachel’s returning smile radiates on her face. It drops when Jesse approaches the table again.
“Hey Quinn. We’re gonna get going.” He reaches down to give her a tight hug, smirking over her shoulder at Rachel. She pokes her tongue out in response. “Don’t forget to give me a call okay babe?”
Quinn presses a quick kiss to his cheek. “I promise.” Rachel frowns.
As soon as Jesse is gone, Brittany and Santana return to the table. Santana says, “B wants ice cream.” And that is that.
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Brittany pulls Quinn towards the counter, excitedly pointed out her favorite flavors. “Well bubble gum tastes best, but vanilla looks especially good on Santana’s skin…” Her voice trails off as Quinn laughs. “What?”
Santana pulls Rachel back behind them. “What’s up Berry? You’re being freakishly quiet.”
Rachel sighs. “Quinn and Jesse look close don’t they? I mean I never even thought about whether or not she’s straight. We just assumed she had feelings for me. What if she doesn’t? What if this whole thing ends up as a huge embarrassment?”
“Well you’re already a huge embarrassment so don’t worry.” Rachel glares. “Just kidding Berry chill. Don’t worry about that. Quinn likes you okay? And don’t worry about Jesse either. Even if he has the hots for her, she thinks of him as a friend. I can tell.”
Rachel’s shoulders sag. “Okay. I’ll trust your judgments.”
“Good. Now let’s go get some ice cream.”
“Do they have anything vegan? Because I refuse to eat anything unrightfully taken from a cow.”
“Ugh. We’ll find something.”
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Rachel and Quinn are sitting alone at a bench in a local park. Rachel watches as Brittany and Santana feed the remnants of an ice cream cone to ducks in a small pond. Quinn suddenly speaks. “Jesse and I were never a thing. If you were wondering.” Her eyes are penetrating and Rachel feels herself blushing.
“What? No. I wasn’t. Why would I be? Okay fine I was. You two seem really close you know?” She rubs her palms together nervously.
Quinn smiles fondly. “He’s my best friend. I’ve known him for almost my entire life. He’s been there for me when no one else has. But that’s it. He’s like the brother I never had. Or really wanted actually.” She lets out a light laugh. “He’s harmless. He might seem like a pompous ass sometimes, but all he really wants is to get out of Lima.”
Rachel smiles. “I guess there’s finally something we have in common.”
“You mean besides ridiculous talent and extremely good looks?” Quinn looks at her with hooded eyes. Rachel gulps.
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They pull up to the house. Rachel is quickly volunteered to walk Quinn to the front door. They stand awkwardly in front of the door before Quinn quickly wraps her arms around Rachel and pulls her close. “Mmm…So next Friday?”
Rachel hesitantly asks, “What about next Friday?”
“Our first date? I’m not counting this one because it kind of sucked and you seem like someone who wants everything to be perfect. So I’m giving you a week to plan. When you weren’t being sad and mopey, I had a really nice time with you.” She cups Rachel’s face in her hands and looks into her eyes. “I was going to wait, but I don’t think I can.”
Rachel stutters, “Wait? Wait for-“ She is interrupted by a soft pair of lips. She is shocked, but she quickly responds, wrapping her arms around Quinn’s waist. She whimpers when Quinn’s tongue swipes against her bottom lip. When they break apart, Quinn licks her lips and swipes her thumb over Rachel’s chin.
“I’ll see you on Monday. Don’t turn around okay?” Quinn squeezes her one more time and heads into the house.
As Rachel walks down the pathway, she does a tiny happy dance. She gives a quick look over the shoulder and flinches when she sees Sue Sylvester standing in the exact same position she had been in when they’d left earlier. Rachel shivers.