Red Elephant (5 of 11)
Title: Red Elephant
Author: verdeasterie
Pairing: Rachel/Quinn
Length: 4447
Rating: NC-17, for language used
Spoilers: Season 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee and/or any of its characters.
Summary: How Quinn Fabray falls in love with Rachel Berry and vice versa.
Notes: So, I'm not really happy with how this played out, but I'll leave it as it is. I know you guys have been quite bored with the sluggish pace so I opted to speed up the ante a bit. Sorry it took a while. Again, some of the parts on italics are either what happened in the past or the characters' insights. I'll try to update as best I can. Well, that's all for now. Have a good read!
v
Finn’s an idiot.
That was the very first thing they’ve ever agreed on. And it was startlingly ironic how the taller boy’s subtleties have seemingly linked them for all the wrong reasons it had felt right. And no one from the club, not even Rachel herself (who claims she has sixth sense), could have foreseen this unlikely closeness.
---------------------------------
Rachel always liked coming to school early in the morning. She was naturally a morning person. Truth be told, the brown-eyed girl was always one of the first few people in school; arriving at 6:50 when classes started at 8 in the morning. The brunette always took pleasure in the serene and tranquil gusto of the empty hallways. Rachel noticed how magnetic the vacuous stillness appeared to be. It was like walking down the empty corridors resonated palpable intensity. For the petite girl, the feeling was deliriously calming.
However, what Rachel loved the most in turning up to school ahead of schedule was the fact that she had the music room all to herself. She would always bribe the janitor (whose shift usually began around 7) to let her in the room; asserting that a specific Spanish teacher (read: Mr. Schuester) had instructed her to practice her pitch.
The music room was her place of refuge. It had always been the space, other than her own, where she could hear her thoughts clearly and sensibly. But what she treasured the most about spending the early mornings in that room was how the sunlight would peek through the windows, consequently illuminating the rest of the four-walled structure. The way the sun’s rays seem to flicker and dance against the smooth and reflective surface of the atrous Steinway grand piano reminded her of the fable her Dad used to tell her when she was a lot younger.
When Rachel was very little, she would sneak inside her fathers’ bedroom and would climb up their bed every time she had trouble sleeping. To help her catch forty winks, her Dad always recounted the story of Aurora and Helene. Of course it was later on that Rachel figured out that the story was just made up. Nevertheless, the appeal of the story never wore out for her.
‘A long, long time ago… before you were born and even before Daddy and I were born, there lived a beautiful and fair-skinned young woman named Helene. Helene was very special. She had the voice of an angel that could make all those who listen fall asleep whenever she’d sing.’
‘Her voice is that beautiful Dad?’ Young Rachel’s eyes widened in excitement as Paul began the story.
‘Uh-huh. A lot of people fell in love with Helene because of her voice and her beauty and her grace. One in particular was an equally beautiful Goddess named Aurora.’
‘What’s a Goddess?’Rachel’s eyebrows creased slightly as she tried to picture what a Goddess was.
‘Well sweetie, a Goddess is a magical and powerful creature.’
‘Oh. Like the fairy Godmother in Cinderella?’
‘Yes honey… just like the fairy Godmother.’ Paul smiled at his daughter.
‘Okay. Then what happened?’
‘Well… Aurora tried to woo Helene. Aurora was the Goddess of the Sun and she would extend her rays far off the skies so that it would reach Helene’s pale arms. Helene got fascinated with how the rays would dance on her skin and how it would give off warmth on her body. Soon, Helene fell in love with Aurora as well.’
The girl remained still, engrossed with Paul’s tale.
‘And since Helene had fallen in love with the Goddess, she no longer sang. And since Aurora’s attention was solely focused on the young girl, she kept the Sun high up in the sky. Before long, plants and crops started dying and the water began disappearing because of too much heat. Shortly after, the people became restless and tired because they weren’t able to go to sleep. Not when Aurora was still in the sky. And not when Helene wasn’t singing them to sleep.’
‘That’s terrible!’ The young girl exclaimed.
‘Yes it was sweetie. So people then began praying to Aurora’s father, Vir. When Vir saw what Aurora and Helene’s love for one another had done, he set off to punish them. So, he cast a spell on Helene so that the young girl would only awake once Aurora had left the sky and he commanded that the young girl lull mankind to sleep. This made Aurora really sad and lonely. She missed Helene a lot. Aurora tried pleading with her father, but Vir was still very angry. The Goddess begged her father desperately. She said that she’d rather be banished as a mortal and stripped of all her powers than have her poor Helene punished. But Vir didn’t listen. Soon after, because Aurora had been too sad, she never rose up in the sky so that it was always night time. People again prayed to Vir asking for Aurora because they needed her to nourish their plants and crops and they needed the warmth and light that the Goddess of the Sun provided. Vir was torn. If he allowed Aurora and Helene to see each other, all the crops will die again. So Vir thought about his decision long and hard. Then, he summoned his daughter, Aurora. He informed her that she could see Helene again. But there was a condition. Vir told Aurora that she and Helene could see each other again but only up until the crack of dawn. And once the Goddess peeks into the horizon, Helene would have to ebb into the boundaries of sleep and sleeplessness again.'
The young girl gasped.
'Hence, at the break of dawn while mankind slept soundly, Aurora and Helene get to be together even for a split second. Aurora never stopped loving Helene. And the young girl never stopped loving the Goddess. And to them it was enough.’
Even as a child, Rachel had found the story to be enchanting. It fascinated her how Aurora and Helene would rather have a glimpse of one another than not have the love of their lives at all. And now as a young adult, she believed that it was how love’s supposed to be. It didn’t matter how long you two have been together, what matters is that for second in time, you belonged to someone and that someone belonged to you. She’d rather have a piece of that someone than not have anything at all.
The brunette usually stayed in the music room ‘til fifteen minutes before the bell rings for first period. She would lose herself in the sight of Aurora’s rays sputtering against her skin-she felt astonishingly similar to the young woman with the voice of an angel. Rachel was her own Helene. She took solace in the thought that someday she’ll find her own Aurora who would give up everything just to be with her. And that sensation usually prepares her for what’s to come in the halls of McKinley. However, no amount of soothing aura could’ve primed her for what was about to come that fateful Thursday afternoon.
Rachel had discovered that certain Thursday to be as uneventful as the past Thursdays of her young existence. She waltzed through her classes with utmost effortlessness and pristine sang-froid. She had lunch with the other Glee kids (a habit they’ve all adopted recently after the other kids felt sorry for the brunette following the break up). Quinn had been strikingly and remarkably civil towards her. In the past couple of days, they’d even been seen acknowledging one another’s presence; although the interaction hasn’t really materialized into actual conversations unlike their prior contact. An awkwardly tall boy even had the decency to finally come up to her.
‘Hey Rach. Can we talk?’
But before the brunette could even utter a reply, Finn grabbed her arm and led her to an empty hallway.
‘I’m really sorry about-‘
‘You don’t have to apologize Finn. I suppose it just didn’t work out.’ She cut him curtly.
‘Yeah... But, I’ve been such an ass avoiding you after w-what happened.’ The boy grimaced and offered a small smile. It was a trick up on the boy’s sleeve that could’ve worked on Rachel months before.
‘That was very pusillanimous of you. You could’ve approached me sooner, instead you-‘
‘Wait. Pulsi-what? Is that a bad thing?’ Finn scrunched up his eyebrows in bewilderment.
‘Forget it.’ She heaved a sigh.
‘I just want us to be friends again Rach.’ His eyes peered to meet hers.
‘I am a professional Finn and if you’re insinuating that this ball of tension between us will in any way disrupt Glee rehearsals, then you’re wrong.’
She spun her heels and was about to walk towards her locker when the boy placed his massive and inadequately-moisturized hand on her shoulder.
‘I just want to make sure we’re okay… y-you’re okay.’
Rachel turned to look back at the pleading boy intently.
‘What did you expect from me?’
‘N-nothing. I’m just. I’m really sorry Rachel.’
‘So am I Finn.’
Her day had been running smoothly, with of course the exception of that verbal altercation with Finn. After fourth period, she went to take a seat at the front row. She was listening attentively to Mr. Schuester’s inspirational and rousing monologue on how the club could greatly improve on their performances. She was about to raise her right arm up to propose a few suggestions when the dopey-looking boy beat her to the punch.
The brunette sat primly on her chair as she draped her arms aptly on her lap. She waited patiently as the awkwardly tall boy walked towards Mr. Schue to keep him on the loop and then to the indefinitely-loaned jazz band kids in the room. The boy then took a seat before the drum set and began pounding the snare, bass and cymbals to the recognizable Death Cab for Cutie chords. Shortly afterwards, Finn started singing.
She had been a front-row witness as the boy’s potent stare was affixed exclusively on the pair of hazel-eyes that belonged to a blonde ex-Cheerio. The boy then stood up and walked to the center of the room, directly in front of the ex-Cheerio, his gaze never leaving the girl. He belted the chorus and strode closer to his muse until he was a few feet away. Rachel could feel her cheeks flushing in anger. The boy was unforgivably tactless! She tried in vain to compose herself. She could sense her teeth clenching in fury. She struggled to appear as calm as she possibly can. (Drama camp undoubtedly worked wonders for her.) Though deep inside, she was seething in hatred.
She could feel her heart thumping deafeningly-frantic to break free off from her chest. She was utterly agitated that someone else might’ve heard the blaringly vociferous thrashing of her fragile heart. It took all of her self-control not to run towards the boy, pull his head off and dash out of the door. It was absolute torture. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs; not caring if she strained her vocal chords in the process. She wanted to yell as loud as she could. This was worse than when she had broken her toe in ballet class practicing a perfectly executed piqué arabesque for her second grade recitals. Even worse than when Claire ‘Skank-whore’ Havishaw had stolen her role in the community theater production of Les Mis. Definitely much more terrible than when the male lead from Vocal Adrenaline broke up with her and humiliated her by egging her in the school’s parking lot.
The boy’s voice faded into oblivion as Rachel’s mind began racing. She thought about how this scenario would’ve perfectly played out as a cruel and inappropriate joke, aside from the fact that the spiteful joke was on her. She pondered upon wringing the taller boy’s neck and kicking him in the nads. She had never been physically violent but she believed that she could make an exception. Finn was humiliating her in front of everyone else. It wasn’t enough for him that he had broken her little and brittle heart, now he had to cut it into minuscule pieces and squeeze lemon and rub salt all over it. This was thoroughly unspeakable.
The air in the room had been insufferably suffocating. She heaved a long, drawn out sigh in exasperation. Breathe in. Breathe out. Just. Keep breathing. She could feel her eyes prickling as the chocolate-brown orbs darkened and glazed over in anger and grief. She could feel her chest being crushed over and over again as she breathed. It was as if an imaginary surgeon’s hand had anchored itself against her heart as it clasped and gripped the pericardium walls tighter and tighter. She felt indescribably helpless.
She could sense the weight of a certain ex-Cheerios’ gaze on her. She couldn’t quite fathom the reason behind it. Instinctively, she assumed that the hazel-eyed girl was gawking at her in a blatant attempt to ridicule and taunt her; as if what Finn had been doing was not enough. She focused her eyes on the clock straight ahead, 2:50 it said. Ten more minutes-ten grueling minutes. You will not see me cry. You will not see me cry. She had been chanting that over and over again. She couldn’t believe that this was even happening. Then it hit her. A few months back, the circumstances had been reversed. She had been the one serenaded and she basked in the boy’s attention. She had been selfish and this was her punishment.
The sound of cheers and applauds awakened her from her trance. She never even became aware that the boy had already finished. Regaining composure, she put her hands up together and clapped. She heard Mr. Schuester dismissing the class but she doesn't say anything. And she doesn’t talk to anyone after that.
---------------------------------
Since the beginning of their junior year, the blonde-haired ex-Cheerio always made it a point to stay in school grounds as late as she possibly can. She didn’t want coming home to an empty house. Her mother still worked into the dead of the night after school had started. The hazel-eyed girl liked walking down the empty corridors and sneaking inside the abandoned classrooms. There was an unexplainable energy coming from the bare halls that seemed to alleviate the chaos from a few hours ago.
But what appealed the most to the girl was the idea of a vacant football field she could lose herself in. That’s where she can usually be found. Quinn loved sitting at the topmost row of the bleachers while she patiently watched as the sun comes to set. The blonde-haired girl adored how the bright blue in the sky would fade to orange then red and morph into the ash-cold grey of the night. The girl was extremely spellbound at that modest miracle of every day life. The picture was enthralling. The scene, mesmerizing. She felt as if she could breathe just as she did before again. And even for just a split second she felt that maybe, just maybe… every single thing would be okay.
The blonde-haired girl was lost in her thoughts when a dopey-looking boy climbed up the bleachers to sit a foot away from her.
‘S-so… y-you never did say anything about w-what you t-thought of the s-song.’ He began anxiously.
‘What’s there to say?’ The girl replied, still transfixed to the view from the horizon.
‘I-I… I-I don’t know. T-that you l-liked it. Or s-somethin’.’
‘Did you even think about how other people would feel?’
‘Um… I-it crossed my mind. But-‘
‘But what Finn?’
‘I-I don’t know. I-in m-movies… grand gestures worked. Y-you know… like that Say Anything movie.’
The hazel-eyed girl shot him a look in a mélange of disgust and disbelief which made the boy grimace. She languorously stood up.
‘Finn… it never would’ve worked out. Not with the wrong person.’
She walked past him and down the bleachers. She never looked back.
---------------------------------
Quinn never really understood what the boy wanted from her. It had been fairly obvious how much uninterested she was. Why can’t he leave me alone? The blonde-haired girl was deep in her thoughts when she walked towards the school parking lot. And there she saw the petite girl.
Rachel was in the driver’s seat with her head hunched against the steering wheel. She casually approached the brunette girl’s car and softly tapped her left hand on the driver’s side window. The girl inside was startled as expected. She lazily rolled down the window and the taller girl politely gestured for her to get out. The brunette sighed in despair.
What does she want now? She slowly opened the car door and lethargically got out.
‘Did you come here to gloat? He’s all yours now, you know.’ She leaned against her car while her eyes trained on her shoes.
What the hell are you talking about Berry? The other girl heaved a sigh as well.
‘Finn’s an idiot.’
‘I know…’ The smaller girl whispered.
Quinn winced.
‘You must totally hate my guts now.’
Rachel glanced up.
‘I don’t hate you.’ I hate myself more.
The blonde girl’s eyebrows furrowed.
‘Why not? I’ve been nothing but awful at you.’ Really Berry? You’re playing the innocent victim?
‘I just don’t. There’s no point in hating you anyway.’ Although I should after all those mean name-callings and slushie attacks.
‘Fine. This makes us even then.’ I don’t have time for this.
‘I wasn’t keeping tabs Quinn.’ Why don’t you just leave me?
‘Maybe next time you should. That’s why people run all over you.’ You’re too damn nice.
‘I choose my battles wisely.’ Just go away Quinn.
‘I really don’t understand you.’ Did I just say that out loud?
The brunette chuckled. Fuck. I did.
‘Good thing you don’t have to.’ She forced a small smile. What's gotten into you?
‘Whatever floats your boat then.’
The taller girl’s eyes scanned for the brunette’s brown ones. Their eyes locked for a millisecond and then both looked swiftly away.
‘About Finn, Berry…’
‘Like I said, he’s no longer my business.’
‘Mine neither.’
Silence… Then both girls started laughing unexpectedly.
‘He really is an idiot.’ The brunette conceded.
‘Yes he is.’ The blonde-haired girl agreed.
Stop looking at me like that Quinn.
‘Thank you for coming up to me like this Quinn. That was very honorable of you. I greatly appreciate the gesture.’
‘Just wanted to clear things up. And to tell you the truth, Finn’s not really worth it. I guess you should know that as well given that you-’
‘A simple-‘You’re welcome, Rachel’-would’ve sufficed.’ She offered the taller girl a warm, genuine smile.
Stop looking at me like that Berry.
Quinn exhaled in defeat.
'You're welcome, Berry.'
'See... that wasn't hard. Anyway, I have to go. It's getting late.'
'Yeah... I should probably head on out too.' She returned the smile.
Rachel eased herself up against the car and had her hand on the door when she sensed the taller girl inch closer to her.
'D-do you... maybe, possibly... w-want to do this again sometime?' Why can’t I keep my fucking mouth shut?
She slowly spun around to face the taller girl.
'Are we starting a 'We hate Finn Hudson Club' now? Because we could probably get Kurt to sign up.' She chuckled.
'No... But if that's how you roll then I suppose I can be persuaded.' The blonde-haired girl countered with a poker-face expression.
'I never pegged you for someone to be easily swayed.' What the hell is your deal Quinn Fabray?
'I do have my moments.' She raised an eyebrow knowingly. Really Berry?
'Oh. Right.' The brunette grimaced as she pictured the girl with the bump in her belly.
'So are you gonna make me ask again?' Because Lord knows I'm already regretting it.
'That would be lovely Quinn.'
---------------------------------
The two girls didn't instantly become close after the parking lot incident. But they did manage to become friendlier than what most people were accustomed to; which was a tad bit alarming to some of the Glee kids. Especially on Finn, who would longingly observe from a tangible distance as both girls would come up to the other as though it was the typical thing to do.
‘Your ringtone’s nice.’ The brunette casually stated as she passed by the blonde girl’s locker.
‘Stalker-ish much?’ Quinn raised her eyebrow in suspicion.
‘I wasn’t being Jacob Ben Israel creepy.’ Rachel retorted defensively. ‘I was walking by earlier when your phone rang. And it was set to loud.’
‘Okay.’ The taller girl shook her head in skepticism. (Although more so in amusement.)
‘I’d imagined you’d be more into the Jonas’ Brothers or Justin Bieber and stuff.’
‘Is it because I’m a clichéd blonde?’
‘Well… you do fit the profile-blonde, Cheerleader, popular.’
‘I'll forget you even agreed to that.'
'W-what? I think it was an accurate assessment.'
'Well, I thought your ears are trained exclusively to show tunes and Broadway.’ The blonde retorted effectively.
‘It’s a preference but that doesn’t suggest that I don’t like other genres. Diversity molds an individual Quinn.’
‘You do march to your own parade.’ She commented with a smirk.
‘I’ll take that as a compliment.' The brunette smiled back. 'See you around Quinn.’
The brunette briskly sauntered off but she stopped midway in her tracks as she remembered something she forgot to ask the other girl. It made her turn her attention back to the blonde.
'Um...' She strolled closer. 'Which song is that again?'
The hazel-eyed girl seemed pleased. 'Strings that tie to you. Jon Brion.'
The next day, the blonde-haired girl approached the brunette at her locker.
'Here.' She extended her right hand.
'What's this?' The shorter girl replied with an incredulous look on her face.
'What does it look like?' The blonde shot back.
'I know what it is Quinn. However you're missing the whole point of my question. It intended to ask you what this is for.' She snatched the case from the taller girl's hand.
'You were asking about that song from yesterday.'
'Oh.' Rachel wanted to say something else but it seemed as if a cat has gotten her tongue all of a sudden.
'You can hold on to that for a while.' Quinn blurted out sensing the peculiar tension.
'Um... thanks.' That was all the smaller girl could come up with.
'See you in Glee.'
'Y-yeah... see you in Glee, Quinn.' The brunette stammered as uncertainty never left the expression on her face.
The other Glee kids found it odd how the two girls would look into one another's eyes and would just burst out giggling. It surprised them to some extent but not to the point that they voiced out their concern. They thought that it was rather entertaining how the blonde and the brunette haven't clawed each other's eyes out, just yet.
Later that week, the smaller brunette managed to chase down the taller blonde as the latter walked over to Glee.
'I must say I adore the soundtrack.' She eagerly muttered. 'I've been looking all over town but it seems that they're out of copies.'
Quinn stopped abruptly.
'You've never seen Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?!?' Her eyes widened in shock.
'Jim Carrey's not my cup of tea.' Rachel whined in defense.
'Me neither. But that movie is... breathtakingly stunning.' The hazel-eyed girl exclaimed in enthusiasm. 'Michél Gondry is exceptional! How can you not have seen it?'
'I've heard. However, every time I see Jim Carrey, I can't help but picture him in that hideous green mask or him as that creepy cable guy.' The brown-eyed girl cringed.
'I know what you mean.' The blonde agreed. 'I only like him when he's "normal".' She raised both her hands as she air quoted the word. 'Like that Stranger than Fiction guy.'
'Who?'
'You know... curly haired, tall, not-at-all funny guy who dressed like an elf.'
'Will Ferrell?'
'Yes him! I can't stand him! That's the only movie with him in it that I liked.'
'That is a nice movie.' The brunette admitted.
'I know right?' Quinn grinned at the girl sheepishly. 'Wait... you watch Will Ferrell and not Jim Carrey?'
'My dad likes him.' The girl replied sardonically. 'Anyway... the part that gets to me the most was how ironic that he only realized what it was to be living after finding out he's about to die.' This time, it was Rachel's eyes that widened in delight.
'His life was meant to be a satire.'
Both girls laughed.
'Well... I have a DVD of it at home. I can lend it to you some time.' The taller girl broke the ice.
'That would be wonderful.' The girl's lips curled into a enticing grin.
'Alright. Just tell me when.' Quinn smiled back.
'Well... I don't really have plans this Saturday. D-do you... Do you maybe want to come over and watch it? We can order a non-vegan pizza?' Rachel bent her head down and winced. She wasn't sure what compelled her to even ask.
The blonde-haired girl chortled.
'That was a terrible attempt at bribery...' She remarked, pausing a little longer as if she was pondering on the answer. 'But sure. Sounds great.'
Rachel nearly bowled over in utter surprise when she had heard the taller girl said yes. She couldn't even suppress the immensely colossal grin plastered on her face.
'Great.'
The brunette was about to walk away when Quinn placed her soft, sufficiently-moisturized hand on her shoulder.
'Um... Berry.'
She contained the smile edging to break out as she spun around.
'Yes?'
'I don't really know where you live.' The blonde-haired girl muttered.
'Oh right.' She fiddled for a pen in her bag and tore out a post-it that she carried in her bag all the time. She then scribbled her address in the yellow sticky note. 'Here. I wrote down my number as well in case you have to cancel.' She handed Quinn the paper.
'Give me more credit than that Berry.'
'I am. That's why I'm giving you my number so you can text or call me in the event that happens. That way, I won't look like a complete idiot waiting for someone who will not show up.'
'You are weirdly verbose.'
'I simply ensure that there's no room for any misinterpretation.'
'Are you sure you're not just doing this so I'll back out?' Quinn grimaced.
'I'll pretend I didn't hear that. I'll see you around 7?'
'Sure.'
'See you Quinn.' She beamed brightly at the taller girl.
'See you.'
Author: verdeasterie
Pairing: Rachel/Quinn
Length: 4447
Rating: NC-17, for language used
Spoilers: Season 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee and/or any of its characters.
Summary: How Quinn Fabray falls in love with Rachel Berry and vice versa.
Notes: So, I'm not really happy with how this played out, but I'll leave it as it is. I know you guys have been quite bored with the sluggish pace so I opted to speed up the ante a bit. Sorry it took a while. Again, some of the parts on italics are either what happened in the past or the characters' insights. I'll try to update as best I can. Well, that's all for now. Have a good read!
v
Finn’s an idiot.
That was the very first thing they’ve ever agreed on. And it was startlingly ironic how the taller boy’s subtleties have seemingly linked them for all the wrong reasons it had felt right. And no one from the club, not even Rachel herself (who claims she has sixth sense), could have foreseen this unlikely closeness.
---------------------------------
Rachel always liked coming to school early in the morning. She was naturally a morning person. Truth be told, the brown-eyed girl was always one of the first few people in school; arriving at 6:50 when classes started at 8 in the morning. The brunette always took pleasure in the serene and tranquil gusto of the empty hallways. Rachel noticed how magnetic the vacuous stillness appeared to be. It was like walking down the empty corridors resonated palpable intensity. For the petite girl, the feeling was deliriously calming.
However, what Rachel loved the most in turning up to school ahead of schedule was the fact that she had the music room all to herself. She would always bribe the janitor (whose shift usually began around 7) to let her in the room; asserting that a specific Spanish teacher (read: Mr. Schuester) had instructed her to practice her pitch.
The music room was her place of refuge. It had always been the space, other than her own, where she could hear her thoughts clearly and sensibly. But what she treasured the most about spending the early mornings in that room was how the sunlight would peek through the windows, consequently illuminating the rest of the four-walled structure. The way the sun’s rays seem to flicker and dance against the smooth and reflective surface of the atrous Steinway grand piano reminded her of the fable her Dad used to tell her when she was a lot younger.
When Rachel was very little, she would sneak inside her fathers’ bedroom and would climb up their bed every time she had trouble sleeping. To help her catch forty winks, her Dad always recounted the story of Aurora and Helene. Of course it was later on that Rachel figured out that the story was just made up. Nevertheless, the appeal of the story never wore out for her.
‘A long, long time ago… before you were born and even before Daddy and I were born, there lived a beautiful and fair-skinned young woman named Helene. Helene was very special. She had the voice of an angel that could make all those who listen fall asleep whenever she’d sing.’
‘Her voice is that beautiful Dad?’ Young Rachel’s eyes widened in excitement as Paul began the story.
‘Uh-huh. A lot of people fell in love with Helene because of her voice and her beauty and her grace. One in particular was an equally beautiful Goddess named Aurora.’
‘What’s a Goddess?’Rachel’s eyebrows creased slightly as she tried to picture what a Goddess was.
‘Well sweetie, a Goddess is a magical and powerful creature.’
‘Oh. Like the fairy Godmother in Cinderella?’
‘Yes honey… just like the fairy Godmother.’ Paul smiled at his daughter.
‘Okay. Then what happened?’
‘Well… Aurora tried to woo Helene. Aurora was the Goddess of the Sun and she would extend her rays far off the skies so that it would reach Helene’s pale arms. Helene got fascinated with how the rays would dance on her skin and how it would give off warmth on her body. Soon, Helene fell in love with Aurora as well.’
The girl remained still, engrossed with Paul’s tale.
‘And since Helene had fallen in love with the Goddess, she no longer sang. And since Aurora’s attention was solely focused on the young girl, she kept the Sun high up in the sky. Before long, plants and crops started dying and the water began disappearing because of too much heat. Shortly after, the people became restless and tired because they weren’t able to go to sleep. Not when Aurora was still in the sky. And not when Helene wasn’t singing them to sleep.’
‘That’s terrible!’ The young girl exclaimed.
‘Yes it was sweetie. So people then began praying to Aurora’s father, Vir. When Vir saw what Aurora and Helene’s love for one another had done, he set off to punish them. So, he cast a spell on Helene so that the young girl would only awake once Aurora had left the sky and he commanded that the young girl lull mankind to sleep. This made Aurora really sad and lonely. She missed Helene a lot. Aurora tried pleading with her father, but Vir was still very angry. The Goddess begged her father desperately. She said that she’d rather be banished as a mortal and stripped of all her powers than have her poor Helene punished. But Vir didn’t listen. Soon after, because Aurora had been too sad, she never rose up in the sky so that it was always night time. People again prayed to Vir asking for Aurora because they needed her to nourish their plants and crops and they needed the warmth and light that the Goddess of the Sun provided. Vir was torn. If he allowed Aurora and Helene to see each other, all the crops will die again. So Vir thought about his decision long and hard. Then, he summoned his daughter, Aurora. He informed her that she could see Helene again. But there was a condition. Vir told Aurora that she and Helene could see each other again but only up until the crack of dawn. And once the Goddess peeks into the horizon, Helene would have to ebb into the boundaries of sleep and sleeplessness again.'
The young girl gasped.
'Hence, at the break of dawn while mankind slept soundly, Aurora and Helene get to be together even for a split second. Aurora never stopped loving Helene. And the young girl never stopped loving the Goddess. And to them it was enough.’
Even as a child, Rachel had found the story to be enchanting. It fascinated her how Aurora and Helene would rather have a glimpse of one another than not have the love of their lives at all. And now as a young adult, she believed that it was how love’s supposed to be. It didn’t matter how long you two have been together, what matters is that for second in time, you belonged to someone and that someone belonged to you. She’d rather have a piece of that someone than not have anything at all.
The brunette usually stayed in the music room ‘til fifteen minutes before the bell rings for first period. She would lose herself in the sight of Aurora’s rays sputtering against her skin-she felt astonishingly similar to the young woman with the voice of an angel. Rachel was her own Helene. She took solace in the thought that someday she’ll find her own Aurora who would give up everything just to be with her. And that sensation usually prepares her for what’s to come in the halls of McKinley. However, no amount of soothing aura could’ve primed her for what was about to come that fateful Thursday afternoon.
Rachel had discovered that certain Thursday to be as uneventful as the past Thursdays of her young existence. She waltzed through her classes with utmost effortlessness and pristine sang-froid. She had lunch with the other Glee kids (a habit they’ve all adopted recently after the other kids felt sorry for the brunette following the break up). Quinn had been strikingly and remarkably civil towards her. In the past couple of days, they’d even been seen acknowledging one another’s presence; although the interaction hasn’t really materialized into actual conversations unlike their prior contact. An awkwardly tall boy even had the decency to finally come up to her.
‘Hey Rach. Can we talk?’
But before the brunette could even utter a reply, Finn grabbed her arm and led her to an empty hallway.
‘I’m really sorry about-‘
‘You don’t have to apologize Finn. I suppose it just didn’t work out.’ She cut him curtly.
‘Yeah... But, I’ve been such an ass avoiding you after w-what happened.’ The boy grimaced and offered a small smile. It was a trick up on the boy’s sleeve that could’ve worked on Rachel months before.
‘That was very pusillanimous of you. You could’ve approached me sooner, instead you-‘
‘Wait. Pulsi-what? Is that a bad thing?’ Finn scrunched up his eyebrows in bewilderment.
‘Forget it.’ She heaved a sigh.
‘I just want us to be friends again Rach.’ His eyes peered to meet hers.
‘I am a professional Finn and if you’re insinuating that this ball of tension between us will in any way disrupt Glee rehearsals, then you’re wrong.’
She spun her heels and was about to walk towards her locker when the boy placed his massive and inadequately-moisturized hand on her shoulder.
‘I just want to make sure we’re okay… y-you’re okay.’
Rachel turned to look back at the pleading boy intently.
‘What did you expect from me?’
‘N-nothing. I’m just. I’m really sorry Rachel.’
‘So am I Finn.’
Her day had been running smoothly, with of course the exception of that verbal altercation with Finn. After fourth period, she went to take a seat at the front row. She was listening attentively to Mr. Schuester’s inspirational and rousing monologue on how the club could greatly improve on their performances. She was about to raise her right arm up to propose a few suggestions when the dopey-looking boy beat her to the punch.
The brunette sat primly on her chair as she draped her arms aptly on her lap. She waited patiently as the awkwardly tall boy walked towards Mr. Schue to keep him on the loop and then to the indefinitely-loaned jazz band kids in the room. The boy then took a seat before the drum set and began pounding the snare, bass and cymbals to the recognizable Death Cab for Cutie chords. Shortly afterwards, Finn started singing.
She had been a front-row witness as the boy’s potent stare was affixed exclusively on the pair of hazel-eyes that belonged to a blonde ex-Cheerio. The boy then stood up and walked to the center of the room, directly in front of the ex-Cheerio, his gaze never leaving the girl. He belted the chorus and strode closer to his muse until he was a few feet away. Rachel could feel her cheeks flushing in anger. The boy was unforgivably tactless! She tried in vain to compose herself. She could sense her teeth clenching in fury. She struggled to appear as calm as she possibly can. (Drama camp undoubtedly worked wonders for her.) Though deep inside, she was seething in hatred.
She could feel her heart thumping deafeningly-frantic to break free off from her chest. She was utterly agitated that someone else might’ve heard the blaringly vociferous thrashing of her fragile heart. It took all of her self-control not to run towards the boy, pull his head off and dash out of the door. It was absolute torture. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs; not caring if she strained her vocal chords in the process. She wanted to yell as loud as she could. This was worse than when she had broken her toe in ballet class practicing a perfectly executed piqué arabesque for her second grade recitals. Even worse than when Claire ‘Skank-whore’ Havishaw had stolen her role in the community theater production of Les Mis. Definitely much more terrible than when the male lead from Vocal Adrenaline broke up with her and humiliated her by egging her in the school’s parking lot.
The boy’s voice faded into oblivion as Rachel’s mind began racing. She thought about how this scenario would’ve perfectly played out as a cruel and inappropriate joke, aside from the fact that the spiteful joke was on her. She pondered upon wringing the taller boy’s neck and kicking him in the nads. She had never been physically violent but she believed that she could make an exception. Finn was humiliating her in front of everyone else. It wasn’t enough for him that he had broken her little and brittle heart, now he had to cut it into minuscule pieces and squeeze lemon and rub salt all over it. This was thoroughly unspeakable.
The air in the room had been insufferably suffocating. She heaved a long, drawn out sigh in exasperation. Breathe in. Breathe out. Just. Keep breathing. She could feel her eyes prickling as the chocolate-brown orbs darkened and glazed over in anger and grief. She could feel her chest being crushed over and over again as she breathed. It was as if an imaginary surgeon’s hand had anchored itself against her heart as it clasped and gripped the pericardium walls tighter and tighter. She felt indescribably helpless.
She could sense the weight of a certain ex-Cheerios’ gaze on her. She couldn’t quite fathom the reason behind it. Instinctively, she assumed that the hazel-eyed girl was gawking at her in a blatant attempt to ridicule and taunt her; as if what Finn had been doing was not enough. She focused her eyes on the clock straight ahead, 2:50 it said. Ten more minutes-ten grueling minutes. You will not see me cry. You will not see me cry. She had been chanting that over and over again. She couldn’t believe that this was even happening. Then it hit her. A few months back, the circumstances had been reversed. She had been the one serenaded and she basked in the boy’s attention. She had been selfish and this was her punishment.
The sound of cheers and applauds awakened her from her trance. She never even became aware that the boy had already finished. Regaining composure, she put her hands up together and clapped. She heard Mr. Schuester dismissing the class but she doesn't say anything. And she doesn’t talk to anyone after that.
---------------------------------
Since the beginning of their junior year, the blonde-haired ex-Cheerio always made it a point to stay in school grounds as late as she possibly can. She didn’t want coming home to an empty house. Her mother still worked into the dead of the night after school had started. The hazel-eyed girl liked walking down the empty corridors and sneaking inside the abandoned classrooms. There was an unexplainable energy coming from the bare halls that seemed to alleviate the chaos from a few hours ago.
But what appealed the most to the girl was the idea of a vacant football field she could lose herself in. That’s where she can usually be found. Quinn loved sitting at the topmost row of the bleachers while she patiently watched as the sun comes to set. The blonde-haired girl adored how the bright blue in the sky would fade to orange then red and morph into the ash-cold grey of the night. The girl was extremely spellbound at that modest miracle of every day life. The picture was enthralling. The scene, mesmerizing. She felt as if she could breathe just as she did before again. And even for just a split second she felt that maybe, just maybe… every single thing would be okay.
The blonde-haired girl was lost in her thoughts when a dopey-looking boy climbed up the bleachers to sit a foot away from her.
‘S-so… y-you never did say anything about w-what you t-thought of the s-song.’ He began anxiously.
‘What’s there to say?’ The girl replied, still transfixed to the view from the horizon.
‘I-I… I-I don’t know. T-that you l-liked it. Or s-somethin’.’
‘Did you even think about how other people would feel?’
‘Um… I-it crossed my mind. But-‘
‘But what Finn?’
‘I-I don’t know. I-in m-movies… grand gestures worked. Y-you know… like that Say Anything movie.’
The hazel-eyed girl shot him a look in a mélange of disgust and disbelief which made the boy grimace. She languorously stood up.
‘Finn… it never would’ve worked out. Not with the wrong person.’
She walked past him and down the bleachers. She never looked back.
---------------------------------
Quinn never really understood what the boy wanted from her. It had been fairly obvious how much uninterested she was. Why can’t he leave me alone? The blonde-haired girl was deep in her thoughts when she walked towards the school parking lot. And there she saw the petite girl.
Rachel was in the driver’s seat with her head hunched against the steering wheel. She casually approached the brunette girl’s car and softly tapped her left hand on the driver’s side window. The girl inside was startled as expected. She lazily rolled down the window and the taller girl politely gestured for her to get out. The brunette sighed in despair.
What does she want now? She slowly opened the car door and lethargically got out.
‘Did you come here to gloat? He’s all yours now, you know.’ She leaned against her car while her eyes trained on her shoes.
What the hell are you talking about Berry? The other girl heaved a sigh as well.
‘Finn’s an idiot.’
‘I know…’ The smaller girl whispered.
Quinn winced.
‘You must totally hate my guts now.’
Rachel glanced up.
‘I don’t hate you.’ I hate myself more.
The blonde girl’s eyebrows furrowed.
‘Why not? I’ve been nothing but awful at you.’ Really Berry? You’re playing the innocent victim?
‘I just don’t. There’s no point in hating you anyway.’ Although I should after all those mean name-callings and slushie attacks.
‘Fine. This makes us even then.’ I don’t have time for this.
‘I wasn’t keeping tabs Quinn.’ Why don’t you just leave me?
‘Maybe next time you should. That’s why people run all over you.’ You’re too damn nice.
‘I choose my battles wisely.’ Just go away Quinn.
‘I really don’t understand you.’ Did I just say that out loud?
The brunette chuckled. Fuck. I did.
‘Good thing you don’t have to.’ She forced a small smile. What's gotten into you?
‘Whatever floats your boat then.’
The taller girl’s eyes scanned for the brunette’s brown ones. Their eyes locked for a millisecond and then both looked swiftly away.
‘About Finn, Berry…’
‘Like I said, he’s no longer my business.’
‘Mine neither.’
Silence… Then both girls started laughing unexpectedly.
‘He really is an idiot.’ The brunette conceded.
‘Yes he is.’ The blonde-haired girl agreed.
Stop looking at me like that Quinn.
‘Thank you for coming up to me like this Quinn. That was very honorable of you. I greatly appreciate the gesture.’
‘Just wanted to clear things up. And to tell you the truth, Finn’s not really worth it. I guess you should know that as well given that you-’
‘A simple-‘You’re welcome, Rachel’-would’ve sufficed.’ She offered the taller girl a warm, genuine smile.
Stop looking at me like that Berry.
Quinn exhaled in defeat.
'You're welcome, Berry.'
'See... that wasn't hard. Anyway, I have to go. It's getting late.'
'Yeah... I should probably head on out too.' She returned the smile.
Rachel eased herself up against the car and had her hand on the door when she sensed the taller girl inch closer to her.
'D-do you... maybe, possibly... w-want to do this again sometime?' Why can’t I keep my fucking mouth shut?
She slowly spun around to face the taller girl.
'Are we starting a 'We hate Finn Hudson Club' now? Because we could probably get Kurt to sign up.' She chuckled.
'No... But if that's how you roll then I suppose I can be persuaded.' The blonde-haired girl countered with a poker-face expression.
'I never pegged you for someone to be easily swayed.' What the hell is your deal Quinn Fabray?
'I do have my moments.' She raised an eyebrow knowingly. Really Berry?
'Oh. Right.' The brunette grimaced as she pictured the girl with the bump in her belly.
'So are you gonna make me ask again?' Because Lord knows I'm already regretting it.
'That would be lovely Quinn.'
---------------------------------
The two girls didn't instantly become close after the parking lot incident. But they did manage to become friendlier than what most people were accustomed to; which was a tad bit alarming to some of the Glee kids. Especially on Finn, who would longingly observe from a tangible distance as both girls would come up to the other as though it was the typical thing to do.
‘Your ringtone’s nice.’ The brunette casually stated as she passed by the blonde girl’s locker.
‘Stalker-ish much?’ Quinn raised her eyebrow in suspicion.
‘I wasn’t being Jacob Ben Israel creepy.’ Rachel retorted defensively. ‘I was walking by earlier when your phone rang. And it was set to loud.’
‘Okay.’ The taller girl shook her head in skepticism. (Although more so in amusement.)
‘I’d imagined you’d be more into the Jonas’ Brothers or Justin Bieber and stuff.’
‘Is it because I’m a clichéd blonde?’
‘Well… you do fit the profile-blonde, Cheerleader, popular.’
‘I'll forget you even agreed to that.'
'W-what? I think it was an accurate assessment.'
'Well, I thought your ears are trained exclusively to show tunes and Broadway.’ The blonde retorted effectively.
‘It’s a preference but that doesn’t suggest that I don’t like other genres. Diversity molds an individual Quinn.’
‘You do march to your own parade.’ She commented with a smirk.
‘I’ll take that as a compliment.' The brunette smiled back. 'See you around Quinn.’
The brunette briskly sauntered off but she stopped midway in her tracks as she remembered something she forgot to ask the other girl. It made her turn her attention back to the blonde.
'Um...' She strolled closer. 'Which song is that again?'
The hazel-eyed girl seemed pleased. 'Strings that tie to you. Jon Brion.'
The next day, the blonde-haired girl approached the brunette at her locker.
'Here.' She extended her right hand.
'What's this?' The shorter girl replied with an incredulous look on her face.
'What does it look like?' The blonde shot back.
'I know what it is Quinn. However you're missing the whole point of my question. It intended to ask you what this is for.' She snatched the case from the taller girl's hand.
'You were asking about that song from yesterday.'
'Oh.' Rachel wanted to say something else but it seemed as if a cat has gotten her tongue all of a sudden.
'You can hold on to that for a while.' Quinn blurted out sensing the peculiar tension.
'Um... thanks.' That was all the smaller girl could come up with.
'See you in Glee.'
'Y-yeah... see you in Glee, Quinn.' The brunette stammered as uncertainty never left the expression on her face.
The other Glee kids found it odd how the two girls would look into one another's eyes and would just burst out giggling. It surprised them to some extent but not to the point that they voiced out their concern. They thought that it was rather entertaining how the blonde and the brunette haven't clawed each other's eyes out, just yet.
Later that week, the smaller brunette managed to chase down the taller blonde as the latter walked over to Glee.
'I must say I adore the soundtrack.' She eagerly muttered. 'I've been looking all over town but it seems that they're out of copies.'
Quinn stopped abruptly.
'You've never seen Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?!?' Her eyes widened in shock.
'Jim Carrey's not my cup of tea.' Rachel whined in defense.
'Me neither. But that movie is... breathtakingly stunning.' The hazel-eyed girl exclaimed in enthusiasm. 'Michél Gondry is exceptional! How can you not have seen it?'
'I've heard. However, every time I see Jim Carrey, I can't help but picture him in that hideous green mask or him as that creepy cable guy.' The brown-eyed girl cringed.
'I know what you mean.' The blonde agreed. 'I only like him when he's "normal".' She raised both her hands as she air quoted the word. 'Like that Stranger than Fiction guy.'
'Who?'
'You know... curly haired, tall, not-at-all funny guy who dressed like an elf.'
'Will Ferrell?'
'Yes him! I can't stand him! That's the only movie with him in it that I liked.'
'That is a nice movie.' The brunette admitted.
'I know right?' Quinn grinned at the girl sheepishly. 'Wait... you watch Will Ferrell and not Jim Carrey?'
'My dad likes him.' The girl replied sardonically. 'Anyway... the part that gets to me the most was how ironic that he only realized what it was to be living after finding out he's about to die.' This time, it was Rachel's eyes that widened in delight.
'His life was meant to be a satire.'
Both girls laughed.
'Well... I have a DVD of it at home. I can lend it to you some time.' The taller girl broke the ice.
'That would be wonderful.' The girl's lips curled into a enticing grin.
'Alright. Just tell me when.' Quinn smiled back.
'Well... I don't really have plans this Saturday. D-do you... Do you maybe want to come over and watch it? We can order a non-vegan pizza?' Rachel bent her head down and winced. She wasn't sure what compelled her to even ask.
The blonde-haired girl chortled.
'That was a terrible attempt at bribery...' She remarked, pausing a little longer as if she was pondering on the answer. 'But sure. Sounds great.'
Rachel nearly bowled over in utter surprise when she had heard the taller girl said yes. She couldn't even suppress the immensely colossal grin plastered on her face.
'Great.'
The brunette was about to walk away when Quinn placed her soft, sufficiently-moisturized hand on her shoulder.
'Um... Berry.'
She contained the smile edging to break out as she spun around.
'Yes?'
'I don't really know where you live.' The blonde-haired girl muttered.
'Oh right.' She fiddled for a pen in her bag and tore out a post-it that she carried in her bag all the time. She then scribbled her address in the yellow sticky note. 'Here. I wrote down my number as well in case you have to cancel.' She handed Quinn the paper.
'Give me more credit than that Berry.'
'I am. That's why I'm giving you my number so you can text or call me in the event that happens. That way, I won't look like a complete idiot waiting for someone who will not show up.'
'You are weirdly verbose.'
'I simply ensure that there's no room for any misinterpretation.'
'Are you sure you're not just doing this so I'll back out?' Quinn grimaced.
'I'll pretend I didn't hear that. I'll see you around 7?'
'Sure.'
'See you Quinn.' She beamed brightly at the taller girl.
'See you.'