A Different Kind of Shine (Part Seven)
Title: A Different Kind of Shine
Author: Jenn
Rating: R?...could go up in later chapters.
Length: 1872 for this part
Spoilers: All of Season One
Summary: Quinn is a laid back surfer type. Rachel is... well, Rachel. Inspired by this Prompt at rq_meme
Will be updated as chapters are added.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
A/N: I know what Quinn did was awful! I thought she needed to do something she could truly regret in order to become more aware of her situation. I hope I can redeem her for you guys!
“I’m in over my head, San.”
The Latina nodded in agreement. “I know. I can’t believe you slept with Puckerman.”
Quinn sighed. “I hate myself for it. Not only because it hurt Rachel but because I did it knowingly, for all the wrong reasons.”
“Why did you do it?”
Leaning back on the Latina’s couch, she closed her eyes tiredly. “I was jealous. I was insanely jealous and it scared the shit out of me. She’s in my head, Santana. When this started, I thought I could just go with it and let things fall where they may. Now I’m not so sure.”
Santana looked at her carefully. “So ask her out. Date her. You want it, she wants it. It’s really that fucking simple, Q.”
Turning her cheek to rest on the cushion, she regarded her best friend hesitantly. “She could destroy me, San. I’ve never felt like this for someone and it’s been a long time since I’ve let anyone in.”
“Quinn. She’s already in. You haven’t been with anyone since you and Rachel started hanging out. With the exception of your one lapse in judgment, that’s a pretty big deal.”
Quinn sighed again. “I think, you may be right.”
Santana scoffed. “Of course I’m right.”
*****
So Quinn had a plan. She had decided to date Rachel, without actually dating her. At least until she could convince herself that Rachel was in this as much as she was. It also gave her time to get over her own anxiety. So she planned to court the brunette without her knowing and hopefully Rachel would give her some kind of sign.
Rachel was currently standing in front her, staring out at the ocean warily. Quinn had gone out and found a board that Rachel could use to learn on, but she still looked tiny standing next to it. Stepping up beside her, she bumped her lightly with her hip. “Rach, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
The brunette looked up into hazel eyes and smiled. Quinn had been completely different since their lunch after the Noah incident. The blonde had been sweet and attentive and even seemed to flirt in a more genuine way. She was unsure what it all meant but she knew Quinn was truly sorry for the way things happened last weekend.
Rachel felt inclined to believe that Quinn might be reaching out to her and exploring their feelings, especially after Brittany told her that Quinn had confirmed to Santana that she hadn’t seen anyone else in the time that she’d been spending with Rachel. So she had decided to encourage Quinn’s advances and participate in the dance they were doing but she would not make the first move.
“Are you ready?”
Rachel turned back to face the waves and sucked in a breath. “Ready.”
Quinn looked back and had to hold her breath as she watched Rachel pull her tank top off, revealing a green halter top, tan skin, and a flat stomach. Good God.
Rachel bit her lip when she caught Quinn staring and adjusted the board shorts she had on, deciding to tease the other girl. “Should I leave these on or take them off?”
Quinn’s reply was instantaneous. “Off.”
Rachel grinned at her and shook her head, untying the string and slipping them off to reveal a modest green bikini that had Quinn lifting her eyes heavenward. She wasn’t sure how she would survive this lesson if she couldn’t touch that smooth tan skin.
Quinn shook her head and then led Rachel out to the water. When the surf washed over their feet, Rachel hesitated. Quinn looked back and noticed the genuine fear in her mocha eyes. Holding out her hand, she smiled warmly. “I’ve got you, Rach, I promise.”
Rachel took a breath and smiled, grasping the pale hand in her own.
The entire lesson was hell for Quinn. Rachel seemed to brush up against her or end up in her arms when she fell, making Quinn’s heart speed up to the point that she was sure it would thud right out of her chest. She never really got the hang of it, but Quinn was proud of the effort she put in it and she had smiled nearly the whole time. Reproducing that smile quickly became Quinn’s favorite pastime.
They collapsed on the towels beside their boards and laughed at their labored breathing. Rachel turned to Quinn and smiled brightly. “That was incredibly fun, Quinn. You’re an incredible teacher.”
Quinn was awestruck. Rachel’s dark hair was tousled and curling as it splayed out around her. Her face was completely free of makeup and had been kissed by the sun, making her glow. Smiling back, she held her gaze and turned on her side, propping her head up on her palm. “Tell me something, Rachel.”
Rachel tilted her head up and peered at her from beneath long lashes. “What would you like to know?”
Quinn held her gaze. “I know things about you. Things like your favorite color, yellow. I know that you’re vegan and that you’re favorite food are those cranberry scones I made you.”
Quinn grinned when Rachel blushed and then continued. “I know that you will be on Broadway one day, that you’re a phenomenal actress. I know that you adore Barbara Streisand and Patti Lupone. I know that you’re favorite movie is Funny Girl and that even thought you say it’s you’re favorite musical too, it’s really Wicked.”
Rachel scowled but didn’t deny it. Quinn dropped her eyes and leaned slightly closer. “I know lots of things about you, but I don’t know where you came from or why you won’t talk about your fathers.”
The brunette’s mouth twitched into a frown and her eyes dropped. Quinn opened her mouth to apologize when Rachel spoke. “I’m not close to my father’s. They’re both lawyers and worked all the time. By the time I was in sixth grade, I was staying home alone for days at a time and almost completely independent. I don’t really know the reason, but they just seemed to lose interest in me when I hit junior high. They pay for whatever I need, but that’s about it. I haven’t spoken to them since I moved out here.”
Quinn hated the sadness she saw in the other girl’s eyes and ached to reach out and hold her. Instead, she laced their fingers together as Rachel continued. “My mother was a surrogate and had signed a contract not to contact me until I was eighteen. We found each other though, just before my sixteenth birthday. I was thrilled. She looks just like me and can sing. I thought we’d hit it off but she said it was too hard and that we should just appreciate each other from afar. It felt awful to be rejected by my fathers and then also my mother.”
This time Quinn couldn’t fight it and when Rachel’s eyes filled with tears, she pulled her into her side. Rachel relaxed into the embrace and decided to finish the story. “She changed her mind the summer before senior year though and tried to get to know me. I didn’t trust her though and pushed her away. Since then, we’ve talked. She moved to New York because she thought I would join her there, but I came to UCLA. We talk on the phone once or twice a week but it’s still hard to let my guard down around her.”
Rachel sighed. “I really just want to leave Lima, Ohio behind me. My boyfriend was terrible to me and it took two and half years for me to see how he was tearing me down. Noah thought I would go to New York too, then, after I broke up with Finn. I got into NYU and Julliard but suddenly, I was terrified. Broadway was and has been my dream since I can remember but I couldn’t go yet, not when it wasn’t really on my own terms. So I came here for a new start.”
Quinn was quiet as she took it all in, finally understanding Rachel a little better. Eventually, she said the only thing she could think to say. “I’m glad you did.”
Rachel smiled through her tears and nodded. “Me too.”
*****
“The music is atrocious here.”
Santana laughed. “Yeah but the drinks are free and Q and I like to watch the frat guys make complete asses of themselves.”
Brittany glanced around at the bar. “Quinn, do you have to serve drinks here too?”
The other blonde smiled and shook her head. “No, Britt, just when I work at the other bar.”
Rachel smiled as Brittany nodded and sat down at the booth on the far wall. Quinn slid in next to her and nudged her with shoulder. The brunette smiled at her and nudged her back.
“God, Berry. We haven’t even been in here fifteen minutes and already you’ve got an admirer.”
Rachel looked up and followed her line of sight, noticing a young guy with sand brown hair smiling at her. Quinn looked up too and glared when she caught his gaze. Turning back to Rachel, she tried to act nonchalant as she angled her body toward Rachel and reached for her hand. “You’re not wearing your ring.”
Rachel noticed the diversion but let the blonde play with her fingers and responded. Santana smirked before turning to whisper in Brittany’s ear.
As the night wore on, Santana had tried valiantly to get Rachel to drink. “Come on, Berry. We got you in even though you’re a dwarf and no one ever asks Q for her ID, you can totally drink here.”
Rachel huffed. “Regardless of the legality, Santana, I simply choose not to.”
Santana let out a long sigh and rolled her eyes. Quinn glared at her and threw a cocktail napkin across the table. “Leave her alone, S.”
Rachel smirked at Santana and received a glare in return. She was just about to respond when the brown haired guy from the bar made his way over. “Hi.”
His eyes were leveled on Rachel and Quinn bristled at his attention. Rachel tried to smile politely but her attention was on Quinn’s now tense posture. “Hello.”
“My name’s Mark.”
Rachel glanced at Santana and Brittany who were both hiding smiles. “Um, nice to meet you, Mark. I’m Rachel.”
Mark smiled and leaned on the table. “The pleasure is mine, Rachel. Listen, I’d like to buy you a drink.”
Before Rachel could respond, Quinn leaned closer to the brunette and glared at the man. “She already has one, Mark.”
Mark actually flinched at the venom in her voice and glanced nervously at Rachel. The brunette smiled apologetically and nodded. Turning quickly, he returned to the bar and his friends.
Santana caught Quinn’s eye and the blonde saw her glance at Brittany who was grinning wildly. Both girls looked incredibly guilty and she immediately realized that Brittany had encouraged Mark to come talk to Rachel when the dancer had gone to the bathroom.
Quinn’s face flushed in irritation and embarrassment. Her scowl quickly faded however when she turned her gaze on Rachel and noticed the brunette smiling widely at her. A matching smile took over Quinn’s face without permission and her heart fluttered when the singer softly kissed her cheek and leaned into her side.
Author: Jenn
Rating: R?...could go up in later chapters.
Length: 1872 for this part
Spoilers: All of Season One
Summary: Quinn is a laid back surfer type. Rachel is... well, Rachel. Inspired by this Prompt at rq_meme
Will be updated as chapters are added.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
A/N: I know what Quinn did was awful! I thought she needed to do something she could truly regret in order to become more aware of her situation. I hope I can redeem her for you guys!
“I’m in over my head, San.”
The Latina nodded in agreement. “I know. I can’t believe you slept with Puckerman.”
Quinn sighed. “I hate myself for it. Not only because it hurt Rachel but because I did it knowingly, for all the wrong reasons.”
“Why did you do it?”
Leaning back on the Latina’s couch, she closed her eyes tiredly. “I was jealous. I was insanely jealous and it scared the shit out of me. She’s in my head, Santana. When this started, I thought I could just go with it and let things fall where they may. Now I’m not so sure.”
Santana looked at her carefully. “So ask her out. Date her. You want it, she wants it. It’s really that fucking simple, Q.”
Turning her cheek to rest on the cushion, she regarded her best friend hesitantly. “She could destroy me, San. I’ve never felt like this for someone and it’s been a long time since I’ve let anyone in.”
“Quinn. She’s already in. You haven’t been with anyone since you and Rachel started hanging out. With the exception of your one lapse in judgment, that’s a pretty big deal.”
Quinn sighed again. “I think, you may be right.”
Santana scoffed. “Of course I’m right.”
*****
So Quinn had a plan. She had decided to date Rachel, without actually dating her. At least until she could convince herself that Rachel was in this as much as she was. It also gave her time to get over her own anxiety. So she planned to court the brunette without her knowing and hopefully Rachel would give her some kind of sign.
Rachel was currently standing in front her, staring out at the ocean warily. Quinn had gone out and found a board that Rachel could use to learn on, but she still looked tiny standing next to it. Stepping up beside her, she bumped her lightly with her hip. “Rach, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
The brunette looked up into hazel eyes and smiled. Quinn had been completely different since their lunch after the Noah incident. The blonde had been sweet and attentive and even seemed to flirt in a more genuine way. She was unsure what it all meant but she knew Quinn was truly sorry for the way things happened last weekend.
Rachel felt inclined to believe that Quinn might be reaching out to her and exploring their feelings, especially after Brittany told her that Quinn had confirmed to Santana that she hadn’t seen anyone else in the time that she’d been spending with Rachel. So she had decided to encourage Quinn’s advances and participate in the dance they were doing but she would not make the first move.
“Are you ready?”
Rachel turned back to face the waves and sucked in a breath. “Ready.”
Quinn looked back and had to hold her breath as she watched Rachel pull her tank top off, revealing a green halter top, tan skin, and a flat stomach. Good God.
Rachel bit her lip when she caught Quinn staring and adjusted the board shorts she had on, deciding to tease the other girl. “Should I leave these on or take them off?”
Quinn’s reply was instantaneous. “Off.”
Rachel grinned at her and shook her head, untying the string and slipping them off to reveal a modest green bikini that had Quinn lifting her eyes heavenward. She wasn’t sure how she would survive this lesson if she couldn’t touch that smooth tan skin.
Quinn shook her head and then led Rachel out to the water. When the surf washed over their feet, Rachel hesitated. Quinn looked back and noticed the genuine fear in her mocha eyes. Holding out her hand, she smiled warmly. “I’ve got you, Rach, I promise.”
Rachel took a breath and smiled, grasping the pale hand in her own.
The entire lesson was hell for Quinn. Rachel seemed to brush up against her or end up in her arms when she fell, making Quinn’s heart speed up to the point that she was sure it would thud right out of her chest. She never really got the hang of it, but Quinn was proud of the effort she put in it and she had smiled nearly the whole time. Reproducing that smile quickly became Quinn’s favorite pastime.
They collapsed on the towels beside their boards and laughed at their labored breathing. Rachel turned to Quinn and smiled brightly. “That was incredibly fun, Quinn. You’re an incredible teacher.”
Quinn was awestruck. Rachel’s dark hair was tousled and curling as it splayed out around her. Her face was completely free of makeup and had been kissed by the sun, making her glow. Smiling back, she held her gaze and turned on her side, propping her head up on her palm. “Tell me something, Rachel.”
Rachel tilted her head up and peered at her from beneath long lashes. “What would you like to know?”
Quinn held her gaze. “I know things about you. Things like your favorite color, yellow. I know that you’re vegan and that you’re favorite food are those cranberry scones I made you.”
Quinn grinned when Rachel blushed and then continued. “I know that you will be on Broadway one day, that you’re a phenomenal actress. I know that you adore Barbara Streisand and Patti Lupone. I know that you’re favorite movie is Funny Girl and that even thought you say it’s you’re favorite musical too, it’s really Wicked.”
Rachel scowled but didn’t deny it. Quinn dropped her eyes and leaned slightly closer. “I know lots of things about you, but I don’t know where you came from or why you won’t talk about your fathers.”
The brunette’s mouth twitched into a frown and her eyes dropped. Quinn opened her mouth to apologize when Rachel spoke. “I’m not close to my father’s. They’re both lawyers and worked all the time. By the time I was in sixth grade, I was staying home alone for days at a time and almost completely independent. I don’t really know the reason, but they just seemed to lose interest in me when I hit junior high. They pay for whatever I need, but that’s about it. I haven’t spoken to them since I moved out here.”
Quinn hated the sadness she saw in the other girl’s eyes and ached to reach out and hold her. Instead, she laced their fingers together as Rachel continued. “My mother was a surrogate and had signed a contract not to contact me until I was eighteen. We found each other though, just before my sixteenth birthday. I was thrilled. She looks just like me and can sing. I thought we’d hit it off but she said it was too hard and that we should just appreciate each other from afar. It felt awful to be rejected by my fathers and then also my mother.”
This time Quinn couldn’t fight it and when Rachel’s eyes filled with tears, she pulled her into her side. Rachel relaxed into the embrace and decided to finish the story. “She changed her mind the summer before senior year though and tried to get to know me. I didn’t trust her though and pushed her away. Since then, we’ve talked. She moved to New York because she thought I would join her there, but I came to UCLA. We talk on the phone once or twice a week but it’s still hard to let my guard down around her.”
Rachel sighed. “I really just want to leave Lima, Ohio behind me. My boyfriend was terrible to me and it took two and half years for me to see how he was tearing me down. Noah thought I would go to New York too, then, after I broke up with Finn. I got into NYU and Julliard but suddenly, I was terrified. Broadway was and has been my dream since I can remember but I couldn’t go yet, not when it wasn’t really on my own terms. So I came here for a new start.”
Quinn was quiet as she took it all in, finally understanding Rachel a little better. Eventually, she said the only thing she could think to say. “I’m glad you did.”
Rachel smiled through her tears and nodded. “Me too.”
*****
“The music is atrocious here.”
Santana laughed. “Yeah but the drinks are free and Q and I like to watch the frat guys make complete asses of themselves.”
Brittany glanced around at the bar. “Quinn, do you have to serve drinks here too?”
The other blonde smiled and shook her head. “No, Britt, just when I work at the other bar.”
Rachel smiled as Brittany nodded and sat down at the booth on the far wall. Quinn slid in next to her and nudged her with shoulder. The brunette smiled at her and nudged her back.
“God, Berry. We haven’t even been in here fifteen minutes and already you’ve got an admirer.”
Rachel looked up and followed her line of sight, noticing a young guy with sand brown hair smiling at her. Quinn looked up too and glared when she caught his gaze. Turning back to Rachel, she tried to act nonchalant as she angled her body toward Rachel and reached for her hand. “You’re not wearing your ring.”
Rachel noticed the diversion but let the blonde play with her fingers and responded. Santana smirked before turning to whisper in Brittany’s ear.
As the night wore on, Santana had tried valiantly to get Rachel to drink. “Come on, Berry. We got you in even though you’re a dwarf and no one ever asks Q for her ID, you can totally drink here.”
Rachel huffed. “Regardless of the legality, Santana, I simply choose not to.”
Santana let out a long sigh and rolled her eyes. Quinn glared at her and threw a cocktail napkin across the table. “Leave her alone, S.”
Rachel smirked at Santana and received a glare in return. She was just about to respond when the brown haired guy from the bar made his way over. “Hi.”
His eyes were leveled on Rachel and Quinn bristled at his attention. Rachel tried to smile politely but her attention was on Quinn’s now tense posture. “Hello.”
“My name’s Mark.”
Rachel glanced at Santana and Brittany who were both hiding smiles. “Um, nice to meet you, Mark. I’m Rachel.”
Mark smiled and leaned on the table. “The pleasure is mine, Rachel. Listen, I’d like to buy you a drink.”
Before Rachel could respond, Quinn leaned closer to the brunette and glared at the man. “She already has one, Mark.”
Mark actually flinched at the venom in her voice and glanced nervously at Rachel. The brunette smiled apologetically and nodded. Turning quickly, he returned to the bar and his friends.
Santana caught Quinn’s eye and the blonde saw her glance at Brittany who was grinning wildly. Both girls looked incredibly guilty and she immediately realized that Brittany had encouraged Mark to come talk to Rachel when the dancer had gone to the bathroom.
Quinn’s face flushed in irritation and embarrassment. Her scowl quickly faded however when she turned her gaze on Rachel and noticed the brunette smiling widely at her. A matching smile took over Quinn’s face without permission and her heart fluttered when the singer softly kissed her cheek and leaned into her side.