Red Elephant (6 of 11)
Title: Red Elephant
Author: verdeasterie
Pairing: Rachel/Quinn
Length: 6205
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 that lengthy chapter had managed to write itself up. I'm breaking the narrative on this one. Sorry it took me a while to update the story. And I'll also apologize for the cliffhanger-ish end. We're halfway done and I could almost see the finish line over at the horizon. I know I'm being a dork again, so I'll leave this up to you guys. And one more thing, I forgot to add a couple of lines earlier so you might want to breeze through the chapter again. (Just tying up some loose ends.) Have a good read!
vi
Their relationship started with small talks.
‘Are you calling to cancel?’
‘No. I was calling to check if you needed anything.’
‘Nope, I think we’re good.’
‘You sure? Coz I could get chips and sodas.’
‘I have it covered Quinn.’ She rolled her eyes.
‘Popcorn?’
‘Just. J-just come over already.’ The brunette groaned.
‘Geez… My parents taught me proper etiquette Berry. And I believe it’s impolite to arrive empty-handed.’
‘And I think it’s even more impolite to turn up late.’ Rachel argued, in vain.
‘I’m just being fashionably late Berry.’
Even through the phone, she could hear the blonde smirking.
‘Fine. You can get the pizza.’ She conceded.
‘Was that any harder than when I first asked?’
‘I believe this is your way of provoking me to cancel.’
The blonde chuckled.
‘See you Berry.’
The brunette was startled.
‘Um… s-see you Quinn.’
---------------------------------
The blonde-haired girl parked her car a block away from the brunette’s house. She had the pizza. And she was 10 minutes early. She turned off her iPod and unplugged it from the auxiliary port as she switched off the engine. She barely had a clue what she was even doing there. She took deep gasps of air. Restless, she fixed her eyes on the digital clock on the dashboard: 18:53 it read. In a couple more minutes, she'd have to turn the engine on again and drive to the shorter girl's house.
Quinn couldn't identify what urged her to come up to the verbose diva in the parking lot a couple of weeks back. She had been mortified at the stunt a particularly dopey-looking boy had pulled off that she felt a tad bit responsible for the other girl. (Pregnancy undoubtedly had softened her.) It was bad enough that Finn pursued her endlessly, now the boy had to resolve to delusional grand gestures. What was next, sorcery and witchcraft in a futile attempt to capture her heart? (The girl sometimes wishes the boy would just get the hint.)
After the parking lot incident, the brunette had become even more affable towards her. And not that she was complaining. (If the girl was ultimately being honest with herself, Rachel's addition to her daily routine had been a welcomed relief.) Yet what Quinn never could fully comprehend was how the other girl could even be this nice to her. Not when she had been outright cruel. And definitely not when she had been sinisterly antagonistic towards the petite girl.
It was odd how Rachel would just walk up to her at her locker or while she was strolling by like it was the obvious and normal thing to do. The petite girl even noticed her ring tone. Her mother had been calling her non-stop that morning and she had intended to ignore the calls when her mother texted her.
Your sister will be in town this weekend with Jack.
Come lunch time, she had switched her phone's profile from silent to loud in the event her mother calls. And since Judy Fabray was reliably predictable, she'd forgotten to revert the profile back to silent. Until Rachel called her out on it. It surprised her that the brunette had shown interest in the ring tone given that it wasn't show tune or Broadway. It wasn't even pop nor R&B. It did intrigue her that the girl appeared fascinated.
Therefore, just like everybody else, Quinn had taken the opportunity to whore out her diverse taste in music as she sifted through boxes and boxes of her stuff (after her parents had kicked her out, her father demanded that her things be boxed and thrown away, her mother however, didn't have the heart to do so; thus everything she had left behind ended up being stored in the attic for posterity). It was after the fifth box that she had finally unearthed the disc she'd been looking for. The very next day she walked up to the brown-eyed girl and without any foreboding, handed her the disc nonchalantly.
When the smaller girl had approached her later that week, she already had every intention of saying yes. If the brunette hadn't asked, she would've tagged along Brittany and Santana; even though the Latina had been getting increasingly annoyed at her imposition. Her sister, Charlie, was coming over for the weekend with her husband Jack. And Quinn had wanted to steer clear from the inopportune reunion.
The brown-eyed girl, on the other hand, isn’t sure how it happened. Who approached whom. She remembered Finn breaking her heart into a million pieces and the next thing she knew; she was baking vegan lemon sugar cookies for movie night with Quinn Fabray. Does this even make them friends now?
Rachel noted how some of the other Glee kids are beginning to look at them funny. Just a couple of days ago in Glee, she caught the hazel-eyed blonde making faces as Mr. Schue talked. Quinn had been bored to her tears as Mr. Schuester persisted on his asinine and dreary monologue. The taller girl thought that no one was paying any attention to her but when the girl looked up towards the shorter girl's direction; she saw the brunette staring back at her with a baffled expression that the blonde had to reply with a sheepish grin. The entire exchange had caused both girls to double over giggling. And Rachel was positive that the other kids in the room had caught on to the minute repartee.
And then Quinn had to lend her that copy of the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind soundtrack out of the blue. The gesture had taken her by surprise. The brunette was about to download the soundtrack over at iTunes after researching the other girl's ring tone when the phone rang (it was her Daddy checking up on her and reminding her that she had a dentist appointment the next day after school). She and her Daddy were on the phone for fifteen minutes (James had to cut the conversation short because an ambulance had just pulled in carrying three trauma victims from a car collision on the highway) that she’d forgotten all about downloading the soundtrack altogether.
Now what was this whole deal about her asking Quinn Fabray to come over? That was certainly impulsive. She hadn’t even considered what it had meant. She would later blame the whole thing on bumping her head on the bathroom sink that morning. She had just finished brushing her teeth and was about to floss when she accidentally dropped the mint-flavored dental floss packet in her haste. She was running late, which was unprecedented (it was only 7:00 in the morning and it took her 15 minutes tops to get to school). And since this was Rachel (who tenaciously adhered to a strict and elaborate dental hygiene), she’d rather be a few minutes late to class than not have flossed at all. (Although in reality, she wasn’t really late-not by a landslide.) Nevertheless, she crouched down to look for the packet and lo and behold, she found it under the bathroom sink. She timidly reached for it, snatched it triumphantly and as she clumsily straightened up, she banged her head on the sink, causing her to bite her lower lip taut so she wouldn’t have to yell profanities dying to splutter out from the tip of her tongue. Without a doubt, it had been that bump on the head. Rachel was so sure of it.
Hence, five minutes before 7, she was expecting the taller hazel-eyed blonde in her living room. And really, she shouldn’t have been fussing like this. Was she even nervous? If she was, why would she be? Friends do this kind of stuff, right? Well, scratch that, she wouldn’t know. Rachel couldn’t figure out why all of a sudden she felt this school-girl giddy. She thought it was nauseating. She even changed her clothes four times because she couldn’t decide on what would’ve been a ‘neutral’ color to wear. (Was there even a neutral color for a non-date/get together/revelry/bash-of-a-thing?) What was even happening to her? She was Rachel Berry, damn it. She’s calm, cool and collected. Was she not? Alright… maybe not. She was a bundle of nerves, pun intended.
The hazel-eyed blonde popped her keys back in, started up the engine and pulled into Rachel's driveway. Taking one last deep, long gulp of air, she turned off the engine and got out of the car. With the DVD and pizza in hand, she tentatively meandered into the smaller girl's porch. She pondered whether or not to knock or ring the doorbell. She settled on knocking-it seemed like the more courteous thing to do.
The brunette answered the door a couple of minutes later.
‘You’re…’ Rachel’s voice trailed off as she clutched the blonde’s arm to look at the girl’s watch. The contact had taken Quinn aback. ‘On time. Impressive.’ The brunette finished.
‘I didn't want you pulling off my head if I turned up late.’ The blonde shrugged. ‘Besides, I know how much you valued punctuality.’
The petite girl cocked an eyebrow up.
'W-what? You know you would have.' Quinn snorted defensively.
'Not literally.' Rachel conceded.
Both girls chuckled.
‘S-so... Are you even gonna let me in? Coz I think it's customary.’
‘Oh. Right.’ The brunette ducked her head to apologize and to conceal the blood that had tinted her cheeks. ‘I'm sorry about that. Come in.’ She slid away from the door and signaled for the taller girl to enter.
'T-thank you.' Quinn ambled into the living room. 'S-so… I got the pizza.’
‘I can see that.’
‘I tried to look for something vegan but seeing as this is a Midwestern town in Ohio…' Quinn's voice trailed off. 'The best I could come up with was Four Cheese and Tomato from De Luca's.’
The blonde placed the box on the rustic center table. ‘I-is this okay?’
‘H-here.' The brunette grabbed the box from the table. 'Let me put that on a platter.’
Rachel then disappeared into the kitchen.
‘Um… D’you need help?’ Quinn called out.
‘No, it's okay. I have it.’
‘Are you sure I can’t help you with anything?’ The taller girl squirmed in the living room.
‘It's fine Quinn.’ The girl yelled from the kitchen.
Rachel emerged from the kitchen holding the platter on her left hand and a pitcher of ice-cold Coke Zero on her right. Quinn instinctively reached for the platter.
'I have a set of hands, you know.'
'Yes, that is awfully apparent Quinn.' Rachel placed the pitcher on the mat that she had set on the table. 'However, you are a guest in this house and I plan on treating you as such.'
'You never do this often, huh?' The blonde teased.
'What gave me away?'
'Oh I don't know... everything?' The taller girl laughed.
Quinn's eyes then searched for Rachel's as the smaller girl's lips arched into an awkward smile.
'Let's try that again. Okay?'
'Is this even necessary Quinn?' She muttered, biting her lower lip involuntarily.
'Of course. You should be taking pointers.' The blonde replied smugly.
'I don't have a choice, do I?'
'Nope.'
'Fine.'
'Alright, from the top.' The hazel-eyed girl remarked, imitating Mr. Schuester's tone. 'Berry, do you need any help?'
'Oh yes Quinn. I do.' The brunette replied, feigning interest.
'You could hold off on the sarcasm.'
Rachel marched into the kitchen slightly irritated. The hazel-eyed girl followed with a smirk splashed on her face.
'You could get that batch of cookies on the plate.' The brown-eyed girl mumbled. 'They're vegan. I hope you like lemon sugar. Have you ever tried vegan cookies before?'
'This would be the first time.'
Rachel snatched two tall glasses and the bowl of popcorn from the counter while Quinn trailed back to the living room with the plate of vegan cookies. Both girls plopped into the couch, sitting at a considerable distance from one another. The brunette then tipped the other girl's glass with soda and poured herself a glass as well.
‘D’you want me to just pop this in?’ Quinn waved the DVD lazily.
‘That's okay. Here, let me do it.’ The smaller girl grabbed the disc, placed it in the player and pressed play.
---------------------------------
Their relationship then progressed into countless movie nights.
'Do you cry over every single thing?'
'I can't help it if I'm more in tune with my emotions unlike some people!'
'Stitch was imitating Elvis!' The blonde shrieked.
'But he looks adorably cute.' The brunette pouted.
The taller girl glanced at the other girl who had tears forming in the corner of her eyes. And all she could do was sigh.
'Congratulations! I think you've just successfully drained all possible sensations on my arm.'
'I told you I don't like scary movies.'
'I'm not gonna argue with that.'
'It was crazy scary!'
'For the nth time Quinn, Jack Torrance isn't popping out of the screen like Sadako.'
The blonde-haired girl scooted over and began rubbing the brunette's black-and-blue arm. The taller girl had maniacally wrung the smaller girl's right arm while they watched The Shining.
'Okay. You have got to stop that.'
'W-what? I'm not doing anything.'
'It's obvious you've seen this a hundred times but, must you sing and dance to Satine's lines?'
'I was just singing to Sparkling Diamonds! That's not a crime!'
The hazel-eyed girl cursed under her breath. She knew it was her fault in agreeing to watch a musical with the brunette (even if that musical was Moulin Rouge! that she had liked as well). And now, the smaller girl was punishing her for refusing to watch Funny Girl (even though Rachel had seen it countless of times already).
'What are you staring at?'
'Nothing.'
'It's rude to ogle Quinn. And creepy.'
The blonde chuckled.
'I wasn't ogling you.'
'Then please do explain what it is you are doing.'
'I was simply comparing our suprasternal notches. Yours is a bit leveled than mine.'
They just saw The English Patient a couple of nights back and now they were sprawled on the brunette's couch watching The Simpsons (the taller girl liked it far more than Family Guy-like that was even a competition). Quinn's hazel eyes had focused back on the TV screen as Rachel turned to face her. The brunette examined the girl on the other end of the couch intently.
'Is there any reason why you're gawking now?'
Rachel unconsciously ran her tongue on her lower lip as her eyes glistened and her lips curved slowly in a devious smirk.
'No reason.' She uttered lazily. 'You might be right.'
---------------------------------
And now their relationship has developed into weekend dinners with respective family members.
Rachel was frantically pacing back and forth in the living room. (It was a good thing her Dad insisted on a plain, dark-colored tortoiseshell Wilton carpet, otherwise that splotch from Rachel’s shoes would’ve been highly prominent and conspicuous.) She had invited Quinn for dinner that Sunday.
'Sweetie... you're already burning a hole in the carpet.' James teased.
Her fathers had expressed a significant interest in meeting the hazel-eyed blonde.
'What time is she coming over again Rachel?' Paul called out from the kitchen.
'In twenty minutes Dad.'
The brunette even rearranged the throw pillows on the couch a lot more than she should have.
'Daddy, mind if you get off the couch for a bit?'
'Pumpkin... I think even the pillows have gone dizzy from all the shuffling.' James ambled closer to his daughter and seized the throw pillow from the girl's hands. 'Everything's perfect already Rach.' He smiled knowingly and kissed her on the cheek.
The girl also checked the vegan peanut butter and banana cookies (she recently discovered that the hazel-eyed blonde was addicted to peanut butter) baking in the oven every five minutes or so.
'Honey, I'll take care of your cookies.' Paul proffered. 'All the sudden movements are starting to build up this migraine.'
The petite girl even peered through her window countless of times to verify if the taller girl's car had pulled in. It was normal to be anxious, right? This would be the very first time Quinn was going to be introduced to her fathers. And it was only just a ‘friend’ coming over for dinner. So her reaction would’ve been somewhat average. Right? What is taking her so long?
Quinn parked again a block away from Rachel's house. If someone would've told her a year ago that she would be driving into the brunette's house for dinner to meet the girl's parents, she would've laughed off the idea as absurd and ridiculous. A lot has surely changed in a year. Now, she was a block away from the smaller girl's house, fifteen minutes away from meeting her parents no less. She would never have imagined in a million years that this would even be happening.
The hazel-eyed blonde nervously tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. She was positive that the Berrys would skin her alive after every single thing that she'd done to their daughter. The girl believes she deserved as much. She contemplated on calling the brunette to cancel but, she knew she couldn't. She understood that this was important to the smaller girl. (When did she even begin acting selfless?)
A man, most probably in his late 30s, walked his sable Tervuren Shepherd on the opposite side of the street. It was windy that night. The wind sweetly wafted, rustling the leaves still left in the branches. The sky blended into a grayish cerulean hue as the pale burnt orange from the sun faded ever so swiftly. It was a perfect Autumn evening. Quinn drew a long, deep breath of air and languidly exhaled. She then switched back on the engine and drove into the brunette girl's driveway.
She carried the dessert wine on her left hand (it was rude to show up empty-handed, her mother used to say) as she aptly knocked on the burnt umber paneled door.
'I'll get it.' She heard a low, throaty voice call out from inside the house at the same time Rachel yelled out.
The door swung open.
'You must be Quinn!' The taller man promptly greeted and smiled warmly. The girl could now see where the brunette got her smile from.
'Y-yes sir.'
'Come in.' He pulled the girl into an affectionate embrace. 'Rachel, I believe, is in the kitchen badgering her Dad.' He gave her a tight-lipped smile.
'T-thank you Mr. Berry.' The blonde-haired girl cautiously walked into the living room.
'It's James, Quinn. Jim, once we're past the formalities.' He chuckled. 'It's so nice of you to drop by for dinner. Rachel's told us a lot of things about you.'
'Thank you for having me Mr. Ber-' James peered at her keenly. 'Um... James.'
'I thought we're past the formalities already?' James lightheartedly snapped at her.
'Um... I-I... Uh...' Quinn froze.
'Daddy you're scaring her!' The brunette marched into the room. 'He's just playing with you Quinn.' She gently rubbed small circles on the taller girl's back.
'R-right. G-good one Jim.' The hazel-eyed girl replied sheepishly. 'Please don't ever leave me alone with your parents again.' She muttered discreetly under her breath.
James chuckled again after seeing the girl's rose-tinted cheeks and wide-eyed expression.
'Oh good. Our guest is here.' A much shorter man with dark-rimmed glasses sauntered in the living room.
'Quinn, this is my dad-' The brown-eyed girl moved closer to the shorter man.
'Paul.' The man finished Rachel's sentence. 'It's such a pleasure to meet you... Quinn?' Rachel's dad extended his left hand.
'F-Fabray. Quinn Fabray sir.' Quinn returned the gesture, offering her right hand for a firm and solid handshake.
'That's an impressive grip you got there.' Paul remarked in acknowledgment. 'Here let me get that bottle. You know you shouldn't have.'
'My mother taught me never to show up empty-handed, sir.' She offered a small smile.
'Oh please Quinn. I feel old enough as it is.' He gushed and returned the smile. 'Just call me Paul.'
'I think dinner's ready, right honey?' James interjected.
The brunette gave her a reassuring smile then clutched her arm and whisked her into the dinning room.
Dinner was strangely amusing. Quinn quickly noticed how likable and genial James was and how reserved and guarded Paul seemed. (Later, she will discover that although Paul looked quiet and standoffish, the man is a good listener and has an incredible sense of humor.) Rachel's fathers asked her about her mom but they considerately didn't push the issue further when she appeared blasé about the topic. James and Rachel talked wildly as Paul nodded and smiled in response. James then started recounting how he and Paul had met.
'He came up to me one day and asked me out.' He declared smugly.
'That's not how it happened sweetie.' Paul refuted. 'If my memory serves me right, you kept stealing glances at me at that coffee shop.'
Both she and Rachel chuckled.
She learned that Paul and James had been together for five years before they decided on having Rachel. Quinn could tell that the brunette's parents were still deeply, madly in love. She was amazed that the couple had maintained the fervor all these years. She furtively wishes her parents had sustained theirs.
Dinner lasted for an hour and despite Quinn's fervent bid to help with the dishes, both Berry men declined. In the end, it was Rachel and James who'd been assigned to the task. She dejectedly, along with Paul, strolled back into the living room to watch television. Paul collapsed to the couch comfortably. She plopped on the other end. Both of them were glued on the screen when Paul addressed her.
'She's a nice and sweet girl.' He began. 'And she's also vulnerable Quinn. She doesn't have a lot of friends and even though Rachel doesn't complain, James and I know that's been hard on her.'
The hazel-eyed girl earnestly listened.
'We love our daughter and for parents, it's a whole lot harder to see your little girl end up getting hurt and upset.' He sipped on the dessert wine. 'You wish you could be there with her every single day to protect her from everyone else but... you could only do so much.'
Quinn felt a lump of unrestrained tension building up at the back of her throat.
'She doesn't cry in our shoulders but we can see the pain in her eyes. Rachel effectively puts up this strong front yet underneath all that she's just as fragile as any sixteen year-old can be.'
Paul turned to look at the statuesque blonde-haired girl.
'Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you Quinn?'
The girl nodded guiltily.
'Just like any other parent, we want our Rachel to be happy.' He offered a tight-lipped smile. 'She deserves to be happy.'
Quinn swallowed hard the lump.
'S-she is a remarkable girl Paul.' She returned the polite smile. 'A-and she does deserve to be h-happy.'
The girl could feel her eyes itching as they glistened slightly.
'I hope my husband hasn't frightened you off Quinn.' James sat beside the man and rested his arm over Paul's shoulder. 'Were you nice?'
'I'm always nice.' Paul tilted his head closer to the other man.
Rachel mouthed I'm sorry as she ambled back in the room. Quinn gave her a pleased smile as the brunette sat beside her.
'Okay then.' James exclaimed cheerily. 'We'll leave you guys alone. I know how old people bore you kids.' He chuckled infectiously.
'But remember, tomorrow's a school night. Alright?' Paul's lips arched into a contented grin. 'It was such a pleasure meeting you Quinn.' He stood up and walked over to the blonde.
'Thank you for having me Paul, James.' She stood up as well.
'The pleasure is all ours dear.' James pulled them both in a warm embrace.
'I trust you Quinn.' Paul whispered in her ear.
The hazel-eyed blonde nodded as both Paul and James marched up the stairs.
'What was that all about?'
'Nothing.' She flopped back in the couch.
'Hm... okay.' Rachel scooted closer and rested her head on the taller girl's shoulder.
'Why didn't you tell your dads every single thing I did?' Quinn turned sideways to look at the brunette.
'I didn't think it was necessary.' The smaller girl's nose scrunched up.
'Why not? I've been really terrible.'
'You aren't now.'
Quinn heaved a sigh.
'I really don't understand you.' She placed her arm on the girl's shoulder. 'T-thanks Berry.'
'For what?'
'For this night.'
---------------------------------
Soon, their relationship escalated to sleepovers.
They were just fresh off their win from Sectionals that Saturday. They were supposed to celebrate at the Mexican restaurant over at Fredericton Avenue when Mr. Schuester had an unfortunate family emergency that he sadly, had to attend to (Terri del Monaco had broken into his new apartment and his neighbor caught her in the act. Now, the police had been called in and the whole incident had turned into a circus and had been blown out of proportion). The Glee kids didn't want to celebrate without their Glee club director so they all agreed to be dropped off at school instead.
Upon arriving at school, the hazel-eyed blonde speedily raced inside McKinley in hopes of retrieving the Calculus book she'd forgotten to take home. The girl wanted to study for their Calculus exam that Monday. In her haste, she failed to tell the Latina that she had to get the book from her locker. The blonde had left her car at home since Santana and Brittany offered to drive her to school that morning. When she jogged back outside, the blonde and the dark-haired Cheerio were gone. She took her phone out of her pocket to text Santana. But, it seems that lady-luck ran out the door as well, when she noticed that the battery had been drained empty.
'Just my luck.' She slouched on the steps.
Just her luck indeed.
'Need a ride?'
She sighed in relief as the brunette drove by.
'Santana was supposed to drive me home. I guess she left with Brittany already.' She gingerly opened the passenger door. 'Why are you still here anyway?'
'My dad called. He just heard the news.'
'Oh. He's still in Manhattan?'
'He's taking a flight back home tomorrow morn-'
'I can't believe you have this song!' Quinn interrupted as her hazel eyes suddenly lit up in delight while her fingers drummed on the dashboard.
'What? I don't look indie-snob to you?' Rachel responded, raising an eyebrow.
'Seriously? You want me to answer that?'
'Ha. Ha. Quinn. That was a poorly executed quip.'
'Seriously Berry. I can't wrap my head around the fact that you have this Born Ruffians' song.'
'Good music is good music, no matter what the genre is.'
Why am I here when you're over there? Red Elephant melodiously played in the background.
'Agreed. S-so... I didn't see your mom today.'
'She's in Beavercreek for the weekend.' The blonde replied as her head bobbed through the song's rhythm.
'I didn't know you had relatives there.'
'My sister. And her husband, Jack.'
'So you're home alone tonight?'
'Yeah. Nothing new.'
'Huh.' The brunette huffed. 'If you'll just be home alone, it would be best for you to sleepover instead.'
'Aren't you home alone too?'
'Precisely my point. We could be home alone together and not separately.'
'Aren't your dads gonna mind?'
'I'll call them. What about your mom?'
She shrugged. 'I can text her.'
'Great! My first ever slumber party!'
'Is it still a party if there's just two of you?'
'You could've just gone along with it.' The brunette pouted.
'And miss that reaction from you? NEVER!' She chuckled.
Rachel rolled her eyes.
'So... how are we going to do this?'
'Let's drop by my house first so we could get my clothes.'
'Deal.'
After Rachel had called her dads and Quinn had texted her mom and right after getting Quinn's stuff from her house, they drove to the brunette's house. They ordered Chinese take-away and collapsed in the couch to watch movies.
'Don't they include forks?'
'I don't think so. They have chopsticks.'
'I'll just go get a fork.'
The blonde-haired girl disappeared into the brunette's kitchen to grab herself a fork.
'Why don't you use the chopsticks?'
'I eat funny with chopsticks.'
The smaller girl looked at her incredulously.
'My parents weren't fans of Chinese food.'
'Oh.' The brown-eyed girl removed the plastic from the other chopsticks and broke off the piece appropriately. 'Give me your hand.'
'Why?' Her eyes were glued to the television screen.
'Just give me your hand.'
She faced the brunette with a bewildered expression on her face.
'Is this you being weird again?'
'I'll teach you how to use them.'
The taller girl chuckled.
'Believe me. I'm dreadful at it.'
'You know, you'll never really know if you don't try.'
'You're not letting this go, are you?'
Rachel cocked an eyebrow up.
'I thought so. Fine. What do I do?'
The smaller girl giggled in excitement.
'First, you have to learn how to hold it correctly.'
'Okay...'
'The base must be pinned on your middle and ring finger while the other piece is fastened between your thumb and index finger.' Rachel motioned accordingly. 'Like so.'
'Huh.' The girl unconsciously bit into her lower lip in concentration.
'Excellent.'
The blonde smiled smugly.
'The tricky step is controlling it. And you do that by lightly moving your index finger.'
'Like this?'
'Yes Quinn! See... you're a natural.' Rachel yanked the girl closer as she flung her arms around the taller girl.
Quinn could feel her cheeks flush into the contact. The brunette consequently jumped away.
'Um... right. Just practice.' The brown-eyed girl's cheeks were rose-tinted as well.
After dinner and movies, both girls decided to get ready for bed. Rachel showed Quinn the bathroom in her room and while the blonde showered, so did the other girl in her fathers' bathroom. When the smaller girl had emerged from the bathroom, she was wearing boy shorts and a tightly fitted tank top. The hazel-eyed girl, on the other hand, had a dark-colored jammies and a white baby tee on. The taller girl was comfortably lying on Rachel's bed when she walked in the room.
'Hey.'
'Do you mind?'
'Not at all.' The girl sauntered inside the room.
'Hey Berry.'
'Yes Quinn?'
'You were great out there.' The blonde propped up the bed using her elbows.
'That's a subject not up for a debate.'
Quinn snatched a pillow and tossed it at the direction of the other girl.
'Hey!' Rachel exclaimed as she playfully hurled the pillow back at the girl.
'Overbearing much?'
'My talent speaks for itself.'
'Sheesh! You'd think you'd exercise a little humility here and there Berry.'
The girls laughed. Quinn lightly swatted the smaller girl's lap as the girl plopped on the bed beside her.
'But come to think of it, that wouldn't work with your ego.'
Rachel teasingly slapped the taller girl's arm.
'You're enjoying this, are you?'
'Which one? Domestic violence or verbal assault?' The blonde smirked.
The brunette's eyes met hers. Their eyes locked for what seemed to be an eternity. The brown-eyed girl's lips arched in a lopsided grin as blood flushed her cheeks. Quinn could feel the wind being knocked off of her. Why does it feel as if her heart had skipped a beat?
'Um... You were really amazing earlier Berry.' She returned the smile as she grudgingly looked away.
'That's really nice of you to say Quinn.' Rachel flopped in the bed beside her.
There was a substantial distance between her and the smaller girl but she could still hear the girl's heartbeat all the way from her end. A couple of feet away from the brunette, she could feel the warmth coming from her petite frame. The space in between them had been inebriating. Silence filled the room for what appeared to be hours and hours as both girls' deep and heavy breathing flurried resoundingly.
'Q-Quinn... are you asleep yet?' The girl murmured in the stillness.
'N-not yet.'
'W-what are you thinking?'
'N-nothing...'
The brunette sighed.
'What's wrong?' She shifted to her side, facing the brown-eyed girl.
'Tell me something I don't know.' The smaller girl rolled sideways to look at her.
Quinn folded her left arm under head and chuckled. 'I don't think that's even possible.'
'Quit laughing.' Rachel reached out to smack the taller girl's side. 'I'm serious. Tell me something other people don't know...' The girl's left hand rested on the curve of the blonde's waist.
'Like what?' She stirred closer.
'I-I don't know. Y-your dreams, living with your mother... your sister. Anything. Please?' The brunette's eyes fluttered as her lips coiled in a pout.
'W-why do you want to know?' Quinn muttered under her breath.
'No reason. I-I j-just. I-I want to learn something about you.'
The blonde-haired girl sighed exasperatedly.
'This is one of those quirks that you will never let go, huh?'
'It's unfair that you can read me like a book.'
'It's because I'm observant Berry.' Her right arm stretched forward as she gently placed the weight of her hand on top of the brown-eyed girl's hips.
'Pfft. That's ridiculous Quinn, I'm perceptive. You just refuse to let me in that head of yours.' The brunette inched closer.
'O-okay, okay. Y-you win.' She could feel the heat emanating from Rachel's body. She could taste it as the girl breathed.
The smaller girl grinned triumphantly; thankful that the dark room masked the blood rushing through her tanned cheeks.
'My sister, Charlie and I were inseparable when we were little.' The blonde started. 'Although she's seven years older than I am.'
The smaller girl smiled in amusement, egging the taller girl to continue.
'It's comforting to have an older sister doting after you. You could get away with almost anything.' She smiled as she recalled memories with her older sister.
Rachel scooted a little bit closer as her hand traveled from the hazel-eyed girl's waist to her back, drawing small circles.
'Before she left for college, she took me to Cincinnati. I was eleven and it was the first time I've ever been out of Lima. My parents were against it at first but Charlie talked them into it. She was quite the charmer.'
'So are you.' The smaller girl mumbled softly that it was scarcely audible.
'Huh?'
'N-nothing. S-so... Cincinnati?'
'She took me to see that statue in Sawyer Pointe. We went to the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. We walked through Fountain Square. We took lots of pictures and it was one of the best times of my life.'
'D-do you guys still talk?' The smaller girl wrapped her arm tightly around the blonde.
'After college she got married. We talked on the phone but...' Her voice trailed off as her hand gradually slid on the brown-eyed girl's back while her fingers gingerly trickled along.
Rachel straightened out her right arm as she weaved it under the taller girl's neck. The brunette pulled the girl closer-the hazel-eyed girl doesn't repulse.
'Tell me another story.'
'I'm beginning to sense a pattern here.'
'Please...?' The brunette gently cupped her pale face.
'Um... I-I can't think of anything at the moment.'
Rachel scoffed. 'It doesn't have to be verbatim.' The smaller girl's left arm enveloped her again.
'Hm... l-let me think.' Her nose creased in deliberation. She soon found it extremely difficult to think of anything.
The petite girl's hand traced her spine lightly, leaving goosebumps where they tread.
'W-well... when I was younger, Charlie, would tell me the story of Odysseus and Penelope. H-have you heard of that?' It was strange how the brown-eyed girl's touch had been torturous and comforting at the same time. The girl's strawberry-scented body wash was deliriously intoxicating.
Rachel nodded. 'But I'd love to hear it from you.' The girl offered a reassuring smile pulling the taller girl even more closer.
'Alright... Odysseus is thrust into war shortly after he married the beautiful Penelope. He fought alongside the Greeks against the mighty Trojans. He battled into Troy for ten long years. His journey home had become riddled with adventure after adventure that challenged his devotion for his wife. It took him a decade to reach Ithaca. And during the long and grueling twenty years apart, Penelope is pursued relentlessly by 108 suitors, each of them claiming that her King Odysseus had already been slain in battle. Penelope rejected each and every one of them, loyal and dedicated that one day the king would return. After a couple of decades, Odysseus identifies himself to Penelope, and the King and Queen reunite, proving that true love is indeed worth waiting for.'
Rachel's brown eyes glistened in the dark room. The brunette's attention converged on the taller girl as she narrated the story.
'True love is definitely worth waiting for.' The smaller girl uttered softly.
Quinn held her breath for what seemed like infinite hours. Her throat was all of a sudden dry. She peered keenly into the other girl's brown eyes. She finally heaved a long, drawn out sigh.
'It absolutely is.'
Author: verdeasterie
Pairing: Rachel/Quinn
Length: 6205
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 that lengthy chapter had managed to write itself up. I'm breaking the narrative on this one. Sorry it took me a while to update the story. And I'll also apologize for the cliffhanger-ish end. We're halfway done and I could almost see the finish line over at the horizon. I know I'm being a dork again, so I'll leave this up to you guys. And one more thing, I forgot to add a couple of lines earlier so you might want to breeze through the chapter again. (Just tying up some loose ends.) Have a good read!
vi
Their relationship started with small talks.
‘Are you calling to cancel?’
‘No. I was calling to check if you needed anything.’
‘Nope, I think we’re good.’
‘You sure? Coz I could get chips and sodas.’
‘I have it covered Quinn.’ She rolled her eyes.
‘Popcorn?’
‘Just. J-just come over already.’ The brunette groaned.
‘Geez… My parents taught me proper etiquette Berry. And I believe it’s impolite to arrive empty-handed.’
‘And I think it’s even more impolite to turn up late.’ Rachel argued, in vain.
‘I’m just being fashionably late Berry.’
Even through the phone, she could hear the blonde smirking.
‘Fine. You can get the pizza.’ She conceded.
‘Was that any harder than when I first asked?’
‘I believe this is your way of provoking me to cancel.’
The blonde chuckled.
‘See you Berry.’
The brunette was startled.
‘Um… s-see you Quinn.’
---------------------------------
The blonde-haired girl parked her car a block away from the brunette’s house. She had the pizza. And she was 10 minutes early. She turned off her iPod and unplugged it from the auxiliary port as she switched off the engine. She barely had a clue what she was even doing there. She took deep gasps of air. Restless, she fixed her eyes on the digital clock on the dashboard: 18:53 it read. In a couple more minutes, she'd have to turn the engine on again and drive to the shorter girl's house.
Quinn couldn't identify what urged her to come up to the verbose diva in the parking lot a couple of weeks back. She had been mortified at the stunt a particularly dopey-looking boy had pulled off that she felt a tad bit responsible for the other girl. (Pregnancy undoubtedly had softened her.) It was bad enough that Finn pursued her endlessly, now the boy had to resolve to delusional grand gestures. What was next, sorcery and witchcraft in a futile attempt to capture her heart? (The girl sometimes wishes the boy would just get the hint.)
After the parking lot incident, the brunette had become even more affable towards her. And not that she was complaining. (If the girl was ultimately being honest with herself, Rachel's addition to her daily routine had been a welcomed relief.) Yet what Quinn never could fully comprehend was how the other girl could even be this nice to her. Not when she had been outright cruel. And definitely not when she had been sinisterly antagonistic towards the petite girl.
It was odd how Rachel would just walk up to her at her locker or while she was strolling by like it was the obvious and normal thing to do. The petite girl even noticed her ring tone. Her mother had been calling her non-stop that morning and she had intended to ignore the calls when her mother texted her.
Your sister will be in town this weekend with Jack.
Come lunch time, she had switched her phone's profile from silent to loud in the event her mother calls. And since Judy Fabray was reliably predictable, she'd forgotten to revert the profile back to silent. Until Rachel called her out on it. It surprised her that the brunette had shown interest in the ring tone given that it wasn't show tune or Broadway. It wasn't even pop nor R&B. It did intrigue her that the girl appeared fascinated.
Therefore, just like everybody else, Quinn had taken the opportunity to whore out her diverse taste in music as she sifted through boxes and boxes of her stuff (after her parents had kicked her out, her father demanded that her things be boxed and thrown away, her mother however, didn't have the heart to do so; thus everything she had left behind ended up being stored in the attic for posterity). It was after the fifth box that she had finally unearthed the disc she'd been looking for. The very next day she walked up to the brown-eyed girl and without any foreboding, handed her the disc nonchalantly.
When the smaller girl had approached her later that week, she already had every intention of saying yes. If the brunette hadn't asked, she would've tagged along Brittany and Santana; even though the Latina had been getting increasingly annoyed at her imposition. Her sister, Charlie, was coming over for the weekend with her husband Jack. And Quinn had wanted to steer clear from the inopportune reunion.
The brown-eyed girl, on the other hand, isn’t sure how it happened. Who approached whom. She remembered Finn breaking her heart into a million pieces and the next thing she knew; she was baking vegan lemon sugar cookies for movie night with Quinn Fabray. Does this even make them friends now?
Rachel noted how some of the other Glee kids are beginning to look at them funny. Just a couple of days ago in Glee, she caught the hazel-eyed blonde making faces as Mr. Schue talked. Quinn had been bored to her tears as Mr. Schuester persisted on his asinine and dreary monologue. The taller girl thought that no one was paying any attention to her but when the girl looked up towards the shorter girl's direction; she saw the brunette staring back at her with a baffled expression that the blonde had to reply with a sheepish grin. The entire exchange had caused both girls to double over giggling. And Rachel was positive that the other kids in the room had caught on to the minute repartee.
And then Quinn had to lend her that copy of the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind soundtrack out of the blue. The gesture had taken her by surprise. The brunette was about to download the soundtrack over at iTunes after researching the other girl's ring tone when the phone rang (it was her Daddy checking up on her and reminding her that she had a dentist appointment the next day after school). She and her Daddy were on the phone for fifteen minutes (James had to cut the conversation short because an ambulance had just pulled in carrying three trauma victims from a car collision on the highway) that she’d forgotten all about downloading the soundtrack altogether.
Now what was this whole deal about her asking Quinn Fabray to come over? That was certainly impulsive. She hadn’t even considered what it had meant. She would later blame the whole thing on bumping her head on the bathroom sink that morning. She had just finished brushing her teeth and was about to floss when she accidentally dropped the mint-flavored dental floss packet in her haste. She was running late, which was unprecedented (it was only 7:00 in the morning and it took her 15 minutes tops to get to school). And since this was Rachel (who tenaciously adhered to a strict and elaborate dental hygiene), she’d rather be a few minutes late to class than not have flossed at all. (Although in reality, she wasn’t really late-not by a landslide.) Nevertheless, she crouched down to look for the packet and lo and behold, she found it under the bathroom sink. She timidly reached for it, snatched it triumphantly and as she clumsily straightened up, she banged her head on the sink, causing her to bite her lower lip taut so she wouldn’t have to yell profanities dying to splutter out from the tip of her tongue. Without a doubt, it had been that bump on the head. Rachel was so sure of it.
Hence, five minutes before 7, she was expecting the taller hazel-eyed blonde in her living room. And really, she shouldn’t have been fussing like this. Was she even nervous? If she was, why would she be? Friends do this kind of stuff, right? Well, scratch that, she wouldn’t know. Rachel couldn’t figure out why all of a sudden she felt this school-girl giddy. She thought it was nauseating. She even changed her clothes four times because she couldn’t decide on what would’ve been a ‘neutral’ color to wear. (Was there even a neutral color for a non-date/get together/revelry/bash-of-a-thing?) What was even happening to her? She was Rachel Berry, damn it. She’s calm, cool and collected. Was she not? Alright… maybe not. She was a bundle of nerves, pun intended.
The hazel-eyed blonde popped her keys back in, started up the engine and pulled into Rachel's driveway. Taking one last deep, long gulp of air, she turned off the engine and got out of the car. With the DVD and pizza in hand, she tentatively meandered into the smaller girl's porch. She pondered whether or not to knock or ring the doorbell. She settled on knocking-it seemed like the more courteous thing to do.
The brunette answered the door a couple of minutes later.
‘You’re…’ Rachel’s voice trailed off as she clutched the blonde’s arm to look at the girl’s watch. The contact had taken Quinn aback. ‘On time. Impressive.’ The brunette finished.
‘I didn't want you pulling off my head if I turned up late.’ The blonde shrugged. ‘Besides, I know how much you valued punctuality.’
The petite girl cocked an eyebrow up.
'W-what? You know you would have.' Quinn snorted defensively.
'Not literally.' Rachel conceded.
Both girls chuckled.
‘S-so... Are you even gonna let me in? Coz I think it's customary.’
‘Oh. Right.’ The brunette ducked her head to apologize and to conceal the blood that had tinted her cheeks. ‘I'm sorry about that. Come in.’ She slid away from the door and signaled for the taller girl to enter.
'T-thank you.' Quinn ambled into the living room. 'S-so… I got the pizza.’
‘I can see that.’
‘I tried to look for something vegan but seeing as this is a Midwestern town in Ohio…' Quinn's voice trailed off. 'The best I could come up with was Four Cheese and Tomato from De Luca's.’
The blonde placed the box on the rustic center table. ‘I-is this okay?’
‘H-here.' The brunette grabbed the box from the table. 'Let me put that on a platter.’
Rachel then disappeared into the kitchen.
‘Um… D’you need help?’ Quinn called out.
‘No, it's okay. I have it.’
‘Are you sure I can’t help you with anything?’ The taller girl squirmed in the living room.
‘It's fine Quinn.’ The girl yelled from the kitchen.
Rachel emerged from the kitchen holding the platter on her left hand and a pitcher of ice-cold Coke Zero on her right. Quinn instinctively reached for the platter.
'I have a set of hands, you know.'
'Yes, that is awfully apparent Quinn.' Rachel placed the pitcher on the mat that she had set on the table. 'However, you are a guest in this house and I plan on treating you as such.'
'You never do this often, huh?' The blonde teased.
'What gave me away?'
'Oh I don't know... everything?' The taller girl laughed.
Quinn's eyes then searched for Rachel's as the smaller girl's lips arched into an awkward smile.
'Let's try that again. Okay?'
'Is this even necessary Quinn?' She muttered, biting her lower lip involuntarily.
'Of course. You should be taking pointers.' The blonde replied smugly.
'I don't have a choice, do I?'
'Nope.'
'Fine.'
'Alright, from the top.' The hazel-eyed girl remarked, imitating Mr. Schuester's tone. 'Berry, do you need any help?'
'Oh yes Quinn. I do.' The brunette replied, feigning interest.
'You could hold off on the sarcasm.'
Rachel marched into the kitchen slightly irritated. The hazel-eyed girl followed with a smirk splashed on her face.
'You could get that batch of cookies on the plate.' The brown-eyed girl mumbled. 'They're vegan. I hope you like lemon sugar. Have you ever tried vegan cookies before?'
'This would be the first time.'
Rachel snatched two tall glasses and the bowl of popcorn from the counter while Quinn trailed back to the living room with the plate of vegan cookies. Both girls plopped into the couch, sitting at a considerable distance from one another. The brunette then tipped the other girl's glass with soda and poured herself a glass as well.
‘D’you want me to just pop this in?’ Quinn waved the DVD lazily.
‘That's okay. Here, let me do it.’ The smaller girl grabbed the disc, placed it in the player and pressed play.
---------------------------------
Their relationship then progressed into countless movie nights.
'Do you cry over every single thing?'
'I can't help it if I'm more in tune with my emotions unlike some people!'
'Stitch was imitating Elvis!' The blonde shrieked.
'But he looks adorably cute.' The brunette pouted.
The taller girl glanced at the other girl who had tears forming in the corner of her eyes. And all she could do was sigh.
'Congratulations! I think you've just successfully drained all possible sensations on my arm.'
'I told you I don't like scary movies.'
'I'm not gonna argue with that.'
'It was crazy scary!'
'For the nth time Quinn, Jack Torrance isn't popping out of the screen like Sadako.'
The blonde-haired girl scooted over and began rubbing the brunette's black-and-blue arm. The taller girl had maniacally wrung the smaller girl's right arm while they watched The Shining.
'Okay. You have got to stop that.'
'W-what? I'm not doing anything.'
'It's obvious you've seen this a hundred times but, must you sing and dance to Satine's lines?'
'I was just singing to Sparkling Diamonds! That's not a crime!'
The hazel-eyed girl cursed under her breath. She knew it was her fault in agreeing to watch a musical with the brunette (even if that musical was Moulin Rouge! that she had liked as well). And now, the smaller girl was punishing her for refusing to watch Funny Girl (even though Rachel had seen it countless of times already).
'What are you staring at?'
'Nothing.'
'It's rude to ogle Quinn. And creepy.'
The blonde chuckled.
'I wasn't ogling you.'
'Then please do explain what it is you are doing.'
'I was simply comparing our suprasternal notches. Yours is a bit leveled than mine.'
They just saw The English Patient a couple of nights back and now they were sprawled on the brunette's couch watching The Simpsons (the taller girl liked it far more than Family Guy-like that was even a competition). Quinn's hazel eyes had focused back on the TV screen as Rachel turned to face her. The brunette examined the girl on the other end of the couch intently.
'Is there any reason why you're gawking now?'
Rachel unconsciously ran her tongue on her lower lip as her eyes glistened and her lips curved slowly in a devious smirk.
'No reason.' She uttered lazily. 'You might be right.'
---------------------------------
And now their relationship has developed into weekend dinners with respective family members.
Rachel was frantically pacing back and forth in the living room. (It was a good thing her Dad insisted on a plain, dark-colored tortoiseshell Wilton carpet, otherwise that splotch from Rachel’s shoes would’ve been highly prominent and conspicuous.) She had invited Quinn for dinner that Sunday.
'Sweetie... you're already burning a hole in the carpet.' James teased.
Her fathers had expressed a significant interest in meeting the hazel-eyed blonde.
'What time is she coming over again Rachel?' Paul called out from the kitchen.
'In twenty minutes Dad.'
The brunette even rearranged the throw pillows on the couch a lot more than she should have.
'Daddy, mind if you get off the couch for a bit?'
'Pumpkin... I think even the pillows have gone dizzy from all the shuffling.' James ambled closer to his daughter and seized the throw pillow from the girl's hands. 'Everything's perfect already Rach.' He smiled knowingly and kissed her on the cheek.
The girl also checked the vegan peanut butter and banana cookies (she recently discovered that the hazel-eyed blonde was addicted to peanut butter) baking in the oven every five minutes or so.
'Honey, I'll take care of your cookies.' Paul proffered. 'All the sudden movements are starting to build up this migraine.'
The petite girl even peered through her window countless of times to verify if the taller girl's car had pulled in. It was normal to be anxious, right? This would be the very first time Quinn was going to be introduced to her fathers. And it was only just a ‘friend’ coming over for dinner. So her reaction would’ve been somewhat average. Right? What is taking her so long?
Quinn parked again a block away from Rachel's house. If someone would've told her a year ago that she would be driving into the brunette's house for dinner to meet the girl's parents, she would've laughed off the idea as absurd and ridiculous. A lot has surely changed in a year. Now, she was a block away from the smaller girl's house, fifteen minutes away from meeting her parents no less. She would never have imagined in a million years that this would even be happening.
The hazel-eyed blonde nervously tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. She was positive that the Berrys would skin her alive after every single thing that she'd done to their daughter. The girl believes she deserved as much. She contemplated on calling the brunette to cancel but, she knew she couldn't. She understood that this was important to the smaller girl. (When did she even begin acting selfless?)
A man, most probably in his late 30s, walked his sable Tervuren Shepherd on the opposite side of the street. It was windy that night. The wind sweetly wafted, rustling the leaves still left in the branches. The sky blended into a grayish cerulean hue as the pale burnt orange from the sun faded ever so swiftly. It was a perfect Autumn evening. Quinn drew a long, deep breath of air and languidly exhaled. She then switched back on the engine and drove into the brunette girl's driveway.
She carried the dessert wine on her left hand (it was rude to show up empty-handed, her mother used to say) as she aptly knocked on the burnt umber paneled door.
'I'll get it.' She heard a low, throaty voice call out from inside the house at the same time Rachel yelled out.
The door swung open.
'You must be Quinn!' The taller man promptly greeted and smiled warmly. The girl could now see where the brunette got her smile from.
'Y-yes sir.'
'Come in.' He pulled the girl into an affectionate embrace. 'Rachel, I believe, is in the kitchen badgering her Dad.' He gave her a tight-lipped smile.
'T-thank you Mr. Berry.' The blonde-haired girl cautiously walked into the living room.
'It's James, Quinn. Jim, once we're past the formalities.' He chuckled. 'It's so nice of you to drop by for dinner. Rachel's told us a lot of things about you.'
'Thank you for having me Mr. Ber-' James peered at her keenly. 'Um... James.'
'I thought we're past the formalities already?' James lightheartedly snapped at her.
'Um... I-I... Uh...' Quinn froze.
'Daddy you're scaring her!' The brunette marched into the room. 'He's just playing with you Quinn.' She gently rubbed small circles on the taller girl's back.
'R-right. G-good one Jim.' The hazel-eyed girl replied sheepishly. 'Please don't ever leave me alone with your parents again.' She muttered discreetly under her breath.
James chuckled again after seeing the girl's rose-tinted cheeks and wide-eyed expression.
'Oh good. Our guest is here.' A much shorter man with dark-rimmed glasses sauntered in the living room.
'Quinn, this is my dad-' The brown-eyed girl moved closer to the shorter man.
'Paul.' The man finished Rachel's sentence. 'It's such a pleasure to meet you... Quinn?' Rachel's dad extended his left hand.
'F-Fabray. Quinn Fabray sir.' Quinn returned the gesture, offering her right hand for a firm and solid handshake.
'That's an impressive grip you got there.' Paul remarked in acknowledgment. 'Here let me get that bottle. You know you shouldn't have.'
'My mother taught me never to show up empty-handed, sir.' She offered a small smile.
'Oh please Quinn. I feel old enough as it is.' He gushed and returned the smile. 'Just call me Paul.'
'I think dinner's ready, right honey?' James interjected.
The brunette gave her a reassuring smile then clutched her arm and whisked her into the dinning room.
Dinner was strangely amusing. Quinn quickly noticed how likable and genial James was and how reserved and guarded Paul seemed. (Later, she will discover that although Paul looked quiet and standoffish, the man is a good listener and has an incredible sense of humor.) Rachel's fathers asked her about her mom but they considerately didn't push the issue further when she appeared blasé about the topic. James and Rachel talked wildly as Paul nodded and smiled in response. James then started recounting how he and Paul had met.
'He came up to me one day and asked me out.' He declared smugly.
'That's not how it happened sweetie.' Paul refuted. 'If my memory serves me right, you kept stealing glances at me at that coffee shop.'
Both she and Rachel chuckled.
She learned that Paul and James had been together for five years before they decided on having Rachel. Quinn could tell that the brunette's parents were still deeply, madly in love. She was amazed that the couple had maintained the fervor all these years. She furtively wishes her parents had sustained theirs.
Dinner lasted for an hour and despite Quinn's fervent bid to help with the dishes, both Berry men declined. In the end, it was Rachel and James who'd been assigned to the task. She dejectedly, along with Paul, strolled back into the living room to watch television. Paul collapsed to the couch comfortably. She plopped on the other end. Both of them were glued on the screen when Paul addressed her.
'She's a nice and sweet girl.' He began. 'And she's also vulnerable Quinn. She doesn't have a lot of friends and even though Rachel doesn't complain, James and I know that's been hard on her.'
The hazel-eyed girl earnestly listened.
'We love our daughter and for parents, it's a whole lot harder to see your little girl end up getting hurt and upset.' He sipped on the dessert wine. 'You wish you could be there with her every single day to protect her from everyone else but... you could only do so much.'
Quinn felt a lump of unrestrained tension building up at the back of her throat.
'She doesn't cry in our shoulders but we can see the pain in her eyes. Rachel effectively puts up this strong front yet underneath all that she's just as fragile as any sixteen year-old can be.'
Paul turned to look at the statuesque blonde-haired girl.
'Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you Quinn?'
The girl nodded guiltily.
'Just like any other parent, we want our Rachel to be happy.' He offered a tight-lipped smile. 'She deserves to be happy.'
Quinn swallowed hard the lump.
'S-she is a remarkable girl Paul.' She returned the polite smile. 'A-and she does deserve to be h-happy.'
The girl could feel her eyes itching as they glistened slightly.
'I hope my husband hasn't frightened you off Quinn.' James sat beside the man and rested his arm over Paul's shoulder. 'Were you nice?'
'I'm always nice.' Paul tilted his head closer to the other man.
Rachel mouthed I'm sorry as she ambled back in the room. Quinn gave her a pleased smile as the brunette sat beside her.
'Okay then.' James exclaimed cheerily. 'We'll leave you guys alone. I know how old people bore you kids.' He chuckled infectiously.
'But remember, tomorrow's a school night. Alright?' Paul's lips arched into a contented grin. 'It was such a pleasure meeting you Quinn.' He stood up and walked over to the blonde.
'Thank you for having me Paul, James.' She stood up as well.
'The pleasure is all ours dear.' James pulled them both in a warm embrace.
'I trust you Quinn.' Paul whispered in her ear.
The hazel-eyed blonde nodded as both Paul and James marched up the stairs.
'What was that all about?'
'Nothing.' She flopped back in the couch.
'Hm... okay.' Rachel scooted closer and rested her head on the taller girl's shoulder.
'Why didn't you tell your dads every single thing I did?' Quinn turned sideways to look at the brunette.
'I didn't think it was necessary.' The smaller girl's nose scrunched up.
'Why not? I've been really terrible.'
'You aren't now.'
Quinn heaved a sigh.
'I really don't understand you.' She placed her arm on the girl's shoulder. 'T-thanks Berry.'
'For what?'
'For this night.'
---------------------------------
Soon, their relationship escalated to sleepovers.
They were just fresh off their win from Sectionals that Saturday. They were supposed to celebrate at the Mexican restaurant over at Fredericton Avenue when Mr. Schuester had an unfortunate family emergency that he sadly, had to attend to (Terri del Monaco had broken into his new apartment and his neighbor caught her in the act. Now, the police had been called in and the whole incident had turned into a circus and had been blown out of proportion). The Glee kids didn't want to celebrate without their Glee club director so they all agreed to be dropped off at school instead.
Upon arriving at school, the hazel-eyed blonde speedily raced inside McKinley in hopes of retrieving the Calculus book she'd forgotten to take home. The girl wanted to study for their Calculus exam that Monday. In her haste, she failed to tell the Latina that she had to get the book from her locker. The blonde had left her car at home since Santana and Brittany offered to drive her to school that morning. When she jogged back outside, the blonde and the dark-haired Cheerio were gone. She took her phone out of her pocket to text Santana. But, it seems that lady-luck ran out the door as well, when she noticed that the battery had been drained empty.
'Just my luck.' She slouched on the steps.
Just her luck indeed.
'Need a ride?'
She sighed in relief as the brunette drove by.
'Santana was supposed to drive me home. I guess she left with Brittany already.' She gingerly opened the passenger door. 'Why are you still here anyway?'
'My dad called. He just heard the news.'
'Oh. He's still in Manhattan?'
'He's taking a flight back home tomorrow morn-'
'I can't believe you have this song!' Quinn interrupted as her hazel eyes suddenly lit up in delight while her fingers drummed on the dashboard.
'What? I don't look indie-snob to you?' Rachel responded, raising an eyebrow.
'Seriously? You want me to answer that?'
'Ha. Ha. Quinn. That was a poorly executed quip.'
'Seriously Berry. I can't wrap my head around the fact that you have this Born Ruffians' song.'
'Good music is good music, no matter what the genre is.'
Why am I here when you're over there? Red Elephant melodiously played in the background.
'Agreed. S-so... I didn't see your mom today.'
'She's in Beavercreek for the weekend.' The blonde replied as her head bobbed through the song's rhythm.
'I didn't know you had relatives there.'
'My sister. And her husband, Jack.'
'So you're home alone tonight?'
'Yeah. Nothing new.'
'Huh.' The brunette huffed. 'If you'll just be home alone, it would be best for you to sleepover instead.'
'Aren't you home alone too?'
'Precisely my point. We could be home alone together and not separately.'
'Aren't your dads gonna mind?'
'I'll call them. What about your mom?'
She shrugged. 'I can text her.'
'Great! My first ever slumber party!'
'Is it still a party if there's just two of you?'
'You could've just gone along with it.' The brunette pouted.
'And miss that reaction from you? NEVER!' She chuckled.
Rachel rolled her eyes.
'So... how are we going to do this?'
'Let's drop by my house first so we could get my clothes.'
'Deal.'
After Rachel had called her dads and Quinn had texted her mom and right after getting Quinn's stuff from her house, they drove to the brunette's house. They ordered Chinese take-away and collapsed in the couch to watch movies.
'Don't they include forks?'
'I don't think so. They have chopsticks.'
'I'll just go get a fork.'
The blonde-haired girl disappeared into the brunette's kitchen to grab herself a fork.
'Why don't you use the chopsticks?'
'I eat funny with chopsticks.'
The smaller girl looked at her incredulously.
'My parents weren't fans of Chinese food.'
'Oh.' The brown-eyed girl removed the plastic from the other chopsticks and broke off the piece appropriately. 'Give me your hand.'
'Why?' Her eyes were glued to the television screen.
'Just give me your hand.'
She faced the brunette with a bewildered expression on her face.
'Is this you being weird again?'
'I'll teach you how to use them.'
The taller girl chuckled.
'Believe me. I'm dreadful at it.'
'You know, you'll never really know if you don't try.'
'You're not letting this go, are you?'
Rachel cocked an eyebrow up.
'I thought so. Fine. What do I do?'
The smaller girl giggled in excitement.
'First, you have to learn how to hold it correctly.'
'Okay...'
'The base must be pinned on your middle and ring finger while the other piece is fastened between your thumb and index finger.' Rachel motioned accordingly. 'Like so.'
'Huh.' The girl unconsciously bit into her lower lip in concentration.
'Excellent.'
The blonde smiled smugly.
'The tricky step is controlling it. And you do that by lightly moving your index finger.'
'Like this?'
'Yes Quinn! See... you're a natural.' Rachel yanked the girl closer as she flung her arms around the taller girl.
Quinn could feel her cheeks flush into the contact. The brunette consequently jumped away.
'Um... right. Just practice.' The brown-eyed girl's cheeks were rose-tinted as well.
After dinner and movies, both girls decided to get ready for bed. Rachel showed Quinn the bathroom in her room and while the blonde showered, so did the other girl in her fathers' bathroom. When the smaller girl had emerged from the bathroom, she was wearing boy shorts and a tightly fitted tank top. The hazel-eyed girl, on the other hand, had a dark-colored jammies and a white baby tee on. The taller girl was comfortably lying on Rachel's bed when she walked in the room.
'Hey.'
'Do you mind?'
'Not at all.' The girl sauntered inside the room.
'Hey Berry.'
'Yes Quinn?'
'You were great out there.' The blonde propped up the bed using her elbows.
'That's a subject not up for a debate.'
Quinn snatched a pillow and tossed it at the direction of the other girl.
'Hey!' Rachel exclaimed as she playfully hurled the pillow back at the girl.
'Overbearing much?'
'My talent speaks for itself.'
'Sheesh! You'd think you'd exercise a little humility here and there Berry.'
The girls laughed. Quinn lightly swatted the smaller girl's lap as the girl plopped on the bed beside her.
'But come to think of it, that wouldn't work with your ego.'
Rachel teasingly slapped the taller girl's arm.
'You're enjoying this, are you?'
'Which one? Domestic violence or verbal assault?' The blonde smirked.
The brunette's eyes met hers. Their eyes locked for what seemed to be an eternity. The brown-eyed girl's lips arched in a lopsided grin as blood flushed her cheeks. Quinn could feel the wind being knocked off of her. Why does it feel as if her heart had skipped a beat?
'Um... You were really amazing earlier Berry.' She returned the smile as she grudgingly looked away.
'That's really nice of you to say Quinn.' Rachel flopped in the bed beside her.
There was a substantial distance between her and the smaller girl but she could still hear the girl's heartbeat all the way from her end. A couple of feet away from the brunette, she could feel the warmth coming from her petite frame. The space in between them had been inebriating. Silence filled the room for what appeared to be hours and hours as both girls' deep and heavy breathing flurried resoundingly.
'Q-Quinn... are you asleep yet?' The girl murmured in the stillness.
'N-not yet.'
'W-what are you thinking?'
'N-nothing...'
The brunette sighed.
'What's wrong?' She shifted to her side, facing the brown-eyed girl.
'Tell me something I don't know.' The smaller girl rolled sideways to look at her.
Quinn folded her left arm under head and chuckled. 'I don't think that's even possible.'
'Quit laughing.' Rachel reached out to smack the taller girl's side. 'I'm serious. Tell me something other people don't know...' The girl's left hand rested on the curve of the blonde's waist.
'Like what?' She stirred closer.
'I-I don't know. Y-your dreams, living with your mother... your sister. Anything. Please?' The brunette's eyes fluttered as her lips coiled in a pout.
'W-why do you want to know?' Quinn muttered under her breath.
'No reason. I-I j-just. I-I want to learn something about you.'
The blonde-haired girl sighed exasperatedly.
'This is one of those quirks that you will never let go, huh?'
'It's unfair that you can read me like a book.'
'It's because I'm observant Berry.' Her right arm stretched forward as she gently placed the weight of her hand on top of the brown-eyed girl's hips.
'Pfft. That's ridiculous Quinn, I'm perceptive. You just refuse to let me in that head of yours.' The brunette inched closer.
'O-okay, okay. Y-you win.' She could feel the heat emanating from Rachel's body. She could taste it as the girl breathed.
The smaller girl grinned triumphantly; thankful that the dark room masked the blood rushing through her tanned cheeks.
'My sister, Charlie and I were inseparable when we were little.' The blonde started. 'Although she's seven years older than I am.'
The smaller girl smiled in amusement, egging the taller girl to continue.
'It's comforting to have an older sister doting after you. You could get away with almost anything.' She smiled as she recalled memories with her older sister.
Rachel scooted a little bit closer as her hand traveled from the hazel-eyed girl's waist to her back, drawing small circles.
'Before she left for college, she took me to Cincinnati. I was eleven and it was the first time I've ever been out of Lima. My parents were against it at first but Charlie talked them into it. She was quite the charmer.'
'So are you.' The smaller girl mumbled softly that it was scarcely audible.
'Huh?'
'N-nothing. S-so... Cincinnati?'
'She took me to see that statue in Sawyer Pointe. We went to the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. We walked through Fountain Square. We took lots of pictures and it was one of the best times of my life.'
'D-do you guys still talk?' The smaller girl wrapped her arm tightly around the blonde.
'After college she got married. We talked on the phone but...' Her voice trailed off as her hand gradually slid on the brown-eyed girl's back while her fingers gingerly trickled along.
Rachel straightened out her right arm as she weaved it under the taller girl's neck. The brunette pulled the girl closer-the hazel-eyed girl doesn't repulse.
'Tell me another story.'
'I'm beginning to sense a pattern here.'
'Please...?' The brunette gently cupped her pale face.
'Um... I-I can't think of anything at the moment.'
Rachel scoffed. 'It doesn't have to be verbatim.' The smaller girl's left arm enveloped her again.
'Hm... l-let me think.' Her nose creased in deliberation. She soon found it extremely difficult to think of anything.
The petite girl's hand traced her spine lightly, leaving goosebumps where they tread.
'W-well... when I was younger, Charlie, would tell me the story of Odysseus and Penelope. H-have you heard of that?' It was strange how the brown-eyed girl's touch had been torturous and comforting at the same time. The girl's strawberry-scented body wash was deliriously intoxicating.
Rachel nodded. 'But I'd love to hear it from you.' The girl offered a reassuring smile pulling the taller girl even more closer.
'Alright... Odysseus is thrust into war shortly after he married the beautiful Penelope. He fought alongside the Greeks against the mighty Trojans. He battled into Troy for ten long years. His journey home had become riddled with adventure after adventure that challenged his devotion for his wife. It took him a decade to reach Ithaca. And during the long and grueling twenty years apart, Penelope is pursued relentlessly by 108 suitors, each of them claiming that her King Odysseus had already been slain in battle. Penelope rejected each and every one of them, loyal and dedicated that one day the king would return. After a couple of decades, Odysseus identifies himself to Penelope, and the King and Queen reunite, proving that true love is indeed worth waiting for.'
Rachel's brown eyes glistened in the dark room. The brunette's attention converged on the taller girl as she narrated the story.
'True love is definitely worth waiting for.' The smaller girl uttered softly.
Quinn held her breath for what seemed like infinite hours. Her throat was all of a sudden dry. She peered keenly into the other girl's brown eyes. She finally heaved a long, drawn out sigh.
'It absolutely is.'