fic: Sight (5/?)
“Quinn? What are you doing here? Not that I don’t want you here because you know I did want to go to Prom with you. It’s just unexpected because you said you weren’t going to be here.”
Quinn smiles at her rambling. “When I told my grandparents that Prom was tonight, they insisted that I go. They want to meet you by the way.”
Rachel smiles shyly. “Really? They want to meet me?”
“Mhmm. I think my grandmother’s exact words were, ‘I have to meet this little spitfire that my Quinnie likes so much.’ I hate when she calls me that.”
“Hehe. Quinnie.”
“Rachel. Or should I call you RayRayBee?” Quinn gives an exaggerated smile.
Rachel hisses, “You swore you would never speak of that.”
“Well if you’re going to call me Quinnie, I get to call you that.”
“Fine. Quinn. Shall we go?”
“We shall. The limo’s waiting outside. Everyone’s super pumped.”
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“This sucks! I am so bored!”
Rachel snaps at him from her place on Quinn’s lap. “Shut it Puckerman! Have some fun! You’re ruining Prom!”
“I bet I’d have more fun if the two of you made out.” He cocks an eyebrow.
“You’re disgusting.” Rachel sticks her tongue out at him.
He shrugs. “Eh. I’ll just go find Brittany and Santana. They’ll let me watch.” He walks off.
Rachel scowls. “He’s such a little pervert.”
Quinn laughs. “He’s not that bad. He’s just hiding behind his ‘badassness.’ Don’t tell him I told you, but he asked Becky to Prom when he saw that no one else was asking her. The only reason they’re not here together is because her parents said no. He’s actually a pretty sweet guy. He just doesn’t want anyone to know. Pretty much everyone in the club is hiding behind something. None of you can just be yourselves.” Her cloudy eyes seem suddenly clear.
Rachel pouts. “Nobody’s hiding behind anything.”
Quinn scoffs. “Tina hides behind her fake stutter, Artie hides behind his disability, and Kurt behind his sexuality. Finn and Brittany pretend to be ignorant, but they know way more than they actually let on. Santana acts like a bitch because she doesn’t want anyone to see her when she’s vulnerable. Mr. Schue is always so optimistic because he knows he can’t handle another let down. Even you. You hide behind all this huge bravado, but you care so much of what others think of you. Everyone is so scared of everything. And yet so fearless. We’re all flawed, but when we’re together, we’re kind of perfect.”
Rachel is stunned. “How is it that you just get us?”
Quinn smiles. “Just because I can’t use my eyes, it doesn’t mean I can’t see.”
Rachel brushes her thumb against Quinn’s chin. “And what do you see?”
Quinn brushes their lips together lightly. “A family.”
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Hours later, everything seems to be dying down. There are a few people still swaying on the dance floor, but Principal Figgins has begun ushering people out the door. As they walk towards their limo, Santana complains, “What kind of Prom ends at 10?”
Kurt answers, “This is Lima. Our 24 hour convenience store closes at 12 am.”
Puck throws an arm around Kurt’s neck and laughs when Kurt squirms away. “One of my MILFs works at a bar. I can talk her into serving us if you guys want to have some real fun.” Almost everyone cheers.
Rachel opens her mouth to protest, but Santana interrupts. “You don’t have to go with them Berry. Besides I think Q has other plans for you two tonight.” Rachel flushes when catcalls and whistles fill the limo.
She whispers into Quinn’s ear, “Where are we going?”
Rachel can almost feel the heat radiating out of Quinn’s cheeks. “Aunt Sue got most of the Cheerios…rooms at the Hilton. And I asked your dads if it would be okay if I got us one too. I’m not trying to pressure you, but I thought maybe we could use it, especially if we’re not going to the club with them. But we don’t have to if you don’t want to. Oh man this was an idiotic idea. I’ll just have the driver take you home.” She slaps her palm against her forehead. “Stupid!”
Rachel pulls Quinn’s hand away from her head and she brushes her hair out of her face. “Quinn Fabray. Stop rambling. I would love to go with you.”
Santana pops the car door open. “Good. Because we’re here.” She follows Brittany out and yanks Rachel out after her. “See you losers later.” She slams the door shut after Quinn and they watch as it pulls away.
Puck pops out through the sky roof. “Have tons of hot sex for me!” Santana flips him off.
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The elevator dings and the door slides open to reveal a hallway lined with doors. Rachel pulls Quinn along and Quinn stumbles when they come to an abrupt stop in front of their door. Rachel hand pauses halfway to the door handle.
“Baby? What’s the matter?”
Rachel lets out a nervous giggle. “I’m kind of nervous. I don’t think I’ve ever felt nervous before. I’ve…I’ve never done anything like this before.”
Quinn smoothes her hands down Rachel’s hips and presses a kiss to her temple. “Me neither. We don’t have to do anything. We can just be together.”
Rachel takes a deep breath, pushes the door open, and pulls Quinn in behind her, clicking the door shut.
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“I can’t believe it.” Rachel feels the words flutter against her forehead.
“Believe what?”
“That I’m here, with you. That I’m so happy. I’ve never told you, but I used to pray every day. Pray that God would give me my eyes back and I could be the perfect daughter to my parents, the one that they always wanted. But he never answered. He abandoned me. So I stopped praying, and I stopped believing. But now I think, now I know, he was just waiting for the perfect moment. Just waiting to bring you into my life. When I’m with you I feel like everything’s going to be okay. Like it doesn’t matter that I can’t and won’t ever see again. Like it doesn’t matter that I’ll never be able to see your face. None of it matters as long as I can touch you and hear you and just be near you. That’s enough. I know we’re just in high school, but I feel like I’ve known you my entire life. You’re beautiful, sweet, and you’re the best person I know. You’re my everything.” She wraps an arm tight around Rachel’s waist. “I’m so in love with you.”
Rachel presses a deep kiss to her lips. “Thank you. I love you. I love you. I love you.” She presses her head to Quinn’s shoulder as tears flood her eyes.
Quinn ducks her head down with a shy, beaming smile. “I have something for you.” She sits up and grabs her purse off the night stand and fumbles with the clasp before popping it open. She feels around inside and pulls out a small velvet box. When Rachel gasps, Quinn shakes her head. “Oh! This isn’t what you think it is! I’m not proposing!” With shaking hands, Quinn takes the ring out of its box and slides it onto Rachel’s finger. “With my two hands, I give you my heart, and crown it with my loyalty. It’s a Claddagh ring. My grandfather gave it to my grandmother before they were engaged. They’ve been in love for over sixty years. This ring is my promise to you. If you’ll accept it, you’ll always have my heart.”
By now, Rachel is almost sobbing. “And you’ll always have mine.” She takes a moment to collect herself before continuing. “The only thing I’ve wanted my entire life was to get out of Lima. To become a star and live the life I’ve always dreamed about. You’re changing everything. Four months ago, I was dreaming about Broadway and award shows. Now all I can think about is a nice house in the country filled with screaming children.”
Quinn smiles crookedly. “With your smile?”
“And your eyes. You’re all I need now.”
“You can have that and more. You can have me and your dream.”
Rachel beams and pushes Quinn backwards onto the bed. “You promise?”
Quinn pulls Rachel onto her lap and wraps one hand around her neck, tugging her down for a kiss. “I swear. We have forever.”
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The next morning, Quinn takes Rachel home and kisses her goodbye at her door.
By noon, Quinn Fabray is gone.