A Different Kind of Shine (Part Fifteen)
Title: A Different Kind of Shine
Author: Jenn
Rating: R?...could go up in later chapters.
Length: 31,630
Spoilers: All of Season One
Summary: Quinn is a laid back surfer type. Rachel is... well, Rachel. Inspired by this Prompt at rq_meme
Masterlist
A/N: Well, this is it! I had such a blast writing this and am so grateful for all of the comments. This was the first time I've finished a multi chapter story and the first time I've ever posted anything I've written. So thank you all so much for being so kind and encouraging! I have some other things in the works so hopefully this is not the last you've heard from me.
Rachel sat on the beach, the sun sinking down in to the navy blue waters stretched out before her. The wind blew softly and she could taste the salt in the air. It was funny; for as much as she still hated sand, she had come to love the salty sea air and the brilliant sunsets of California. Closing her eyes, she fought back another round of frustrated tears.
Quinn had completely avoided her for two days. Rachel had scoured Los Angeles and staked out the blonde's favorite places. Last night, she'd sat outside Quinn's apartment but the blonde had never come home and eventually the neighbors' suspicious stares became too much. So Rachel had made her way to their beach before the sun came up, hoping Quinn would seek their favorite place for comfort.
As the sun sank down and she shifted in the sand where she had sat the entire day, fatigue and the ever present ache in her chest swept over her. Giving in, she let the tears she was fighting spill down her cheek.
Footsteps in the sand made her head swivel up hopefully, only to be met with brown hair and dark eyes as Santana sat down beside her. "Britt's really worried about you. She said you haven't been home and that you probably aren't eating."
Rachel swallowed and wiped away the last of her tears. "She completely cut me out, Santana. I don't even know where she is."
The Latina nodded and stared out at the sunset. "Quinn doesn't deal with heartbreak very well, Rachel, you know that. It doesn't make it okay but there's a precedent of people turning their backs on her."
The singer sighed. "I just wished she had a little more faith in me than that."
"Brittany thinks it's her fault."
Rachel's chin dropped and she shook her head. "It's not. I wasn't clear. I had just gotten off the phone with my mom and we'd been talking for an hour about everything. I thought I would have to convince her that staying was the right decision but she agreed with me right away. We spent the whole call talking about Quinn and the possibility of moving to New York after graduation. I should have listened more carefully to what Britt was saying."
Santana nodded and Rachel glanced at her. "You'll tell her I'm not angry?"
"I already did."
Rachel traced her finger through the sand and bit her lip. "San, you don't think that Quinn would… seek comfort somewhere else, do you?"
Santana was quiet and Rachel took the frown on her face for irritation. "It's not that I truly think she would, I just… She didn't go home, Santana, I was there all night and she won't even speak to me."
The Latina turned to face her. "I know you trust her, Rachel, and I don't blame you for wondering. I don't really believe she could ever do that to you but I'm not going to lie to you and say it's impossible."
The singer nodded silently. Santana played with the ring on her finger for a moment before speaking. "I called the bar and they said she picked up a shift tonight. I almost want to ask you not to go because I think it should be Quinn who comes to you, but who knows how long that would take."
Rachel glanced at her and quirked a smile when the Latina rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath. "Stubborn ass."
Leaning over, she kissed the other girl's cheek. Santana tried not to smile but couldn't. "There's some kind of concert there tonight, she's going to be swamped."
Rachel stood and offered her hand to her friend. "Well I guess I'll just have to do something to catch her attention. Will you help me pick out an outfit?"
The Latina smirked and nodded. "God knows you need it."
Rachel glared at her and Santana just laughed and tugged her toward her car. "Let's go, Short Stack."
xxxxxx
Quinn slid a shot of tequila down the bar and listened as another patron shouted a drink at her. Her mind was on autopilot as her hands found the correct liquor and mixed the drink absently. She appreciated the busy crowd tonight because that meant less time for her to think about Rachel and New York and how she'd been a coward and ran away. She grit her teeth as she served someone else, still furious at herself for taking off and avoiding Rachel the way she had. No doubt the singer was hurt and trying to reach her. Slapping away someone's grabby hands, she rolled her eyes at the catcalls and decided enough was enough. Tonight, she'd talk to Rachel.
xxxxxx
Rachel smiled at the bouncer and sucked in a relieved breath that he remembered her and let her in without checking for an ID. Pushing through the crowd, she grimaced at the smell of sweat and alcohol permeating the room. Standing on her tip toes, she tried desperately to see over the heads of the people moving around her but couldn't. Even as she reached the bar, the bodies were four and five people thick from the counter. Searching for the end, she tried to make her way to the front.
As she stood behind a group of loud, rowdy boys, she tugged at her shirt self consciously. Brittany and Santana had certainly done their job. Her skin tight jeans, red heels, and low cut black top had seemed to catch the eye of nearly every person she passed.
"Excuse me."
The guys turned around and the one closest to her smiled smoothly. "What can I do for you, pretty girl?"
Rachel tried not to curl her lip as his eyes scanned her modest cleavage. "I was wondering if you'd let me by, I need to speak to the bartender."
Another guy leaned forward. "You need a drink, baby? It's on me."
The singer frowned. "I appreciate the offer but no, I actually need to speak to the bartender."
The first guy glanced behind him. "Good luck getting her attention, she's hardly glanced this direction in over an hour."
Rachel bit her lip. "Well, then I wonder if you could assist me."
xxxxxx
Quinn heard a commotion at the other end of the bar but was busy arranging a tray for the VIP waitress. People were shouting suggestive names at her and she fought the urge to shower them all with water from the fountain. Then, amidst the lewd names, something caught her attention. People were actually calling her name.
"Quinn."
"Hey, Quinn!"
"Quinn, yo, Quinn!"
"Quinn Fabray!"
The last voice made her head snap toward the end of the bar. Her jaw dropped at what she saw there. Standing on the countertop, amongst a group of leering men, was a 5'2" brunette with her long legs encased in skin tight denim and a black top with a plunging neckline attracting the eye of everyone around.
"Rachel!"
Quickly making her way down to bar, she frowned and held out her hand. "Get down from there."
"Quinn, I require your attention…"
The blonde wasn't listening however. Her eyes narrowed on one of the men behind Rachel, his hand still around her calf. "Hands off my girlfriend, jackass."
Rachel stomped her foot. "Quinn!"
The frustrated tone caught her attention. "Rachel will you please get down?"
The singer crossed her arms. "Will you listen to me and not run away for two days?"
A voice from the crowd called out. "I'll listen to you, sweetheart!"
Quinn growled and reached up to grasp the brunette's hips, forcibly pulling her down. Rachel squeaked and stumbled slightly before righting herself. "Quinn, I do not appreciate being manhandled."
"Rachel, you were standing on a bar!"
The brunette sniffed and adjusted her top. "Do I have your attention now?"
Quinn sucked in a breath and nodded. Rachel swallowed and lifted her chin. "Good. I'll get straight to the point. You, Quinn Fabray, are an idiot."
Quinn frowned. "What…"
Rachel shook her head. "No talking from you. What Brittany told you was a misunderstanding. I am not moving to New York right now."
"But the letter…"
Rachel rolled her eyes. "Yes, Quinn, I was offered a spot at NYU however if you had stuck around you would have heard me explain that while I was flattered, I am currently very happy where I am. I spoke to my mom for a long time and we both agree that UCLA is the best place for me right now."
"But Broadway…"
The blonde's confusion was endearing and Rachel fought a smile. "Broadway will be there when I graduate, Quinn. And until then, my mom is going to keep an eye out for parts that I might be interested in. If something comes up between now and the time that I graduate, I will consider it and will also talk to you first."
Quinn was silent and Rachel's face fell slightly. "Quinn, my move to New York is inevitable. Your reaction to the possibility isn't very reassuring and I don't think I can handle you running off and ignoring me for two days ever again."
The blonde's eyes dropped. "I'm so sorry, Rachel. I panicked and just let it consume me. I spent most of my time here and at the beach."
"I was at the beach all day today, Quinn."
Quinn bit her lip and felt her heart swell slightly. "You were? I was there yesterday. "
Rachel sighed. "Quinn, I love you and I want to stay here with you but you have to give me some credit."
The blonde reached for her hands. "I will and I love you too, baby. I'm so sorry."
Rachel smiled weakly and then dropped her eyes. "Quinn, when the time comes for me to leave and go to New York, will I be able to compete with Los Angeles? I know how much this place means to you after all that you've been through and New York is so different…"
Quinn cut her off with a smile. "You'd want me to come with you?"
Rachel nodded. "Would you be able to leave California behind; you can't surf in New York."
Quinn wrapped Rachel in her arms and smiled widely, touching their noses together slightly. "Baby, L.A. has surfing; if New York has you, Rachel, then there's not even a decision for me to make."
The singer smiled back and closed her eyes. "You'd pick me?"
Quinn nodded and brought their lips together as she whispered her reply. "Every time."
Their lips met in a heated kiss and Rachel wrapped her arms around the blonde's neck. Quinn held her tight and smiled into their embrace as the crowd surrounding them erupted in cheers and whistles.
Rachel blushed and ducked her head. "Can we go home now? While I adore an audience, I'd like to kiss you in private."
Quinn grinned. "Your place or mine?"
Rachel looked into her bright hazel eyes and smiled softly. "It doesn't matter. Home is wherever you are Quinn."
Author: Jenn
Rating: R?...could go up in later chapters.
Length: 31,630
Spoilers: All of Season One
Summary: Quinn is a laid back surfer type. Rachel is... well, Rachel. Inspired by this Prompt at rq_meme
Masterlist
A/N: Well, this is it! I had such a blast writing this and am so grateful for all of the comments. This was the first time I've finished a multi chapter story and the first time I've ever posted anything I've written. So thank you all so much for being so kind and encouraging! I have some other things in the works so hopefully this is not the last you've heard from me.
Rachel sat on the beach, the sun sinking down in to the navy blue waters stretched out before her. The wind blew softly and she could taste the salt in the air. It was funny; for as much as she still hated sand, she had come to love the salty sea air and the brilliant sunsets of California. Closing her eyes, she fought back another round of frustrated tears.
Quinn had completely avoided her for two days. Rachel had scoured Los Angeles and staked out the blonde's favorite places. Last night, she'd sat outside Quinn's apartment but the blonde had never come home and eventually the neighbors' suspicious stares became too much. So Rachel had made her way to their beach before the sun came up, hoping Quinn would seek their favorite place for comfort.
As the sun sank down and she shifted in the sand where she had sat the entire day, fatigue and the ever present ache in her chest swept over her. Giving in, she let the tears she was fighting spill down her cheek.
Footsteps in the sand made her head swivel up hopefully, only to be met with brown hair and dark eyes as Santana sat down beside her. "Britt's really worried about you. She said you haven't been home and that you probably aren't eating."
Rachel swallowed and wiped away the last of her tears. "She completely cut me out, Santana. I don't even know where she is."
The Latina nodded and stared out at the sunset. "Quinn doesn't deal with heartbreak very well, Rachel, you know that. It doesn't make it okay but there's a precedent of people turning their backs on her."
The singer sighed. "I just wished she had a little more faith in me than that."
"Brittany thinks it's her fault."
Rachel's chin dropped and she shook her head. "It's not. I wasn't clear. I had just gotten off the phone with my mom and we'd been talking for an hour about everything. I thought I would have to convince her that staying was the right decision but she agreed with me right away. We spent the whole call talking about Quinn and the possibility of moving to New York after graduation. I should have listened more carefully to what Britt was saying."
Santana nodded and Rachel glanced at her. "You'll tell her I'm not angry?"
"I already did."
Rachel traced her finger through the sand and bit her lip. "San, you don't think that Quinn would… seek comfort somewhere else, do you?"
Santana was quiet and Rachel took the frown on her face for irritation. "It's not that I truly think she would, I just… She didn't go home, Santana, I was there all night and she won't even speak to me."
The Latina turned to face her. "I know you trust her, Rachel, and I don't blame you for wondering. I don't really believe she could ever do that to you but I'm not going to lie to you and say it's impossible."
The singer nodded silently. Santana played with the ring on her finger for a moment before speaking. "I called the bar and they said she picked up a shift tonight. I almost want to ask you not to go because I think it should be Quinn who comes to you, but who knows how long that would take."
Rachel glanced at her and quirked a smile when the Latina rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath. "Stubborn ass."
Leaning over, she kissed the other girl's cheek. Santana tried not to smile but couldn't. "There's some kind of concert there tonight, she's going to be swamped."
Rachel stood and offered her hand to her friend. "Well I guess I'll just have to do something to catch her attention. Will you help me pick out an outfit?"
The Latina smirked and nodded. "God knows you need it."
Rachel glared at her and Santana just laughed and tugged her toward her car. "Let's go, Short Stack."
xxxxxx
Quinn slid a shot of tequila down the bar and listened as another patron shouted a drink at her. Her mind was on autopilot as her hands found the correct liquor and mixed the drink absently. She appreciated the busy crowd tonight because that meant less time for her to think about Rachel and New York and how she'd been a coward and ran away. She grit her teeth as she served someone else, still furious at herself for taking off and avoiding Rachel the way she had. No doubt the singer was hurt and trying to reach her. Slapping away someone's grabby hands, she rolled her eyes at the catcalls and decided enough was enough. Tonight, she'd talk to Rachel.
xxxxxx
Rachel smiled at the bouncer and sucked in a relieved breath that he remembered her and let her in without checking for an ID. Pushing through the crowd, she grimaced at the smell of sweat and alcohol permeating the room. Standing on her tip toes, she tried desperately to see over the heads of the people moving around her but couldn't. Even as she reached the bar, the bodies were four and five people thick from the counter. Searching for the end, she tried to make her way to the front.
As she stood behind a group of loud, rowdy boys, she tugged at her shirt self consciously. Brittany and Santana had certainly done their job. Her skin tight jeans, red heels, and low cut black top had seemed to catch the eye of nearly every person she passed.
"Excuse me."
The guys turned around and the one closest to her smiled smoothly. "What can I do for you, pretty girl?"
Rachel tried not to curl her lip as his eyes scanned her modest cleavage. "I was wondering if you'd let me by, I need to speak to the bartender."
Another guy leaned forward. "You need a drink, baby? It's on me."
The singer frowned. "I appreciate the offer but no, I actually need to speak to the bartender."
The first guy glanced behind him. "Good luck getting her attention, she's hardly glanced this direction in over an hour."
Rachel bit her lip. "Well, then I wonder if you could assist me."
xxxxxx
Quinn heard a commotion at the other end of the bar but was busy arranging a tray for the VIP waitress. People were shouting suggestive names at her and she fought the urge to shower them all with water from the fountain. Then, amidst the lewd names, something caught her attention. People were actually calling her name.
"Quinn."
"Hey, Quinn!"
"Quinn, yo, Quinn!"
"Quinn Fabray!"
The last voice made her head snap toward the end of the bar. Her jaw dropped at what she saw there. Standing on the countertop, amongst a group of leering men, was a 5'2" brunette with her long legs encased in skin tight denim and a black top with a plunging neckline attracting the eye of everyone around.
"Rachel!"
Quickly making her way down to bar, she frowned and held out her hand. "Get down from there."
"Quinn, I require your attention…"
The blonde wasn't listening however. Her eyes narrowed on one of the men behind Rachel, his hand still around her calf. "Hands off my girlfriend, jackass."
Rachel stomped her foot. "Quinn!"
The frustrated tone caught her attention. "Rachel will you please get down?"
The singer crossed her arms. "Will you listen to me and not run away for two days?"
A voice from the crowd called out. "I'll listen to you, sweetheart!"
Quinn growled and reached up to grasp the brunette's hips, forcibly pulling her down. Rachel squeaked and stumbled slightly before righting herself. "Quinn, I do not appreciate being manhandled."
"Rachel, you were standing on a bar!"
The brunette sniffed and adjusted her top. "Do I have your attention now?"
Quinn sucked in a breath and nodded. Rachel swallowed and lifted her chin. "Good. I'll get straight to the point. You, Quinn Fabray, are an idiot."
Quinn frowned. "What…"
Rachel shook her head. "No talking from you. What Brittany told you was a misunderstanding. I am not moving to New York right now."
"But the letter…"
Rachel rolled her eyes. "Yes, Quinn, I was offered a spot at NYU however if you had stuck around you would have heard me explain that while I was flattered, I am currently very happy where I am. I spoke to my mom for a long time and we both agree that UCLA is the best place for me right now."
"But Broadway…"
The blonde's confusion was endearing and Rachel fought a smile. "Broadway will be there when I graduate, Quinn. And until then, my mom is going to keep an eye out for parts that I might be interested in. If something comes up between now and the time that I graduate, I will consider it and will also talk to you first."
Quinn was silent and Rachel's face fell slightly. "Quinn, my move to New York is inevitable. Your reaction to the possibility isn't very reassuring and I don't think I can handle you running off and ignoring me for two days ever again."
The blonde's eyes dropped. "I'm so sorry, Rachel. I panicked and just let it consume me. I spent most of my time here and at the beach."
"I was at the beach all day today, Quinn."
Quinn bit her lip and felt her heart swell slightly. "You were? I was there yesterday. "
Rachel sighed. "Quinn, I love you and I want to stay here with you but you have to give me some credit."
The blonde reached for her hands. "I will and I love you too, baby. I'm so sorry."
Rachel smiled weakly and then dropped her eyes. "Quinn, when the time comes for me to leave and go to New York, will I be able to compete with Los Angeles? I know how much this place means to you after all that you've been through and New York is so different…"
Quinn cut her off with a smile. "You'd want me to come with you?"
Rachel nodded. "Would you be able to leave California behind; you can't surf in New York."
Quinn wrapped Rachel in her arms and smiled widely, touching their noses together slightly. "Baby, L.A. has surfing; if New York has you, Rachel, then there's not even a decision for me to make."
The singer smiled back and closed her eyes. "You'd pick me?"
Quinn nodded and brought their lips together as she whispered her reply. "Every time."
Their lips met in a heated kiss and Rachel wrapped her arms around the blonde's neck. Quinn held her tight and smiled into their embrace as the crowd surrounding them erupted in cheers and whistles.
Rachel blushed and ducked her head. "Can we go home now? While I adore an audience, I'd like to kiss you in private."
Quinn grinned. "Your place or mine?"
Rachel looked into her bright hazel eyes and smiled softly. "It doesn't matter. Home is wherever you are Quinn."