Fic: Lucky (2/?)
Title: Lucky
Author: cranberry_pi
Rating: R for themes.
Spoilers: Up to "Mattress," sort of. It's AU in that Quinn had a pregnancy scare, but wasn't really pregnant.
Summary: An attempt at this prompt.
WARNINGS: Cancer, Character Death.
Envy. It wasn’t an emotion most people would associate with Quinn Fabray. After all, she had everything - the nuclear family, the shiny car, the looks, the position at the top of McKinley’s social hierarchy - everything. Who could she possibly be envious of? Most people would have laughed if she told them, would have assumed it was the setup for an elaborate punchline. How could Quinn Fabray ever envy Rachel Berry?
But she did. The envy was so powerful that it manifested in her sometimes brutal mistreatment of the other girl. Rachel Berry was the reason she’d joined Glee - not the desperate desire to keep Finn at her side, the reason she’d given Sue and Santana. When she’d snuck into the auditorium to watch them perform for the first time that fall afternoon, it wasn’t Finn she was watching. It was Rachel - her voice sent shivers down Quinn’s spine, raised goosebumps on her arms. It was awe-inspiring, to see someone so utterly dedicated to a goal.
Not that Quinn didn’t know a thing or two about dedication, but Rachel went about achieving her goal in a totally different way. There was no bullying from Rachel - no ordering of slushies, no cutting comments to other students when they were at their most vulnerable. She was occasionally tactless, but from what Quinn could discern that was simply a lack of social graces on her part rather than a deliberate attempt to be cruel. And she would be great - she was immensely talented, and she’d rise to the top without ever having to sink to Quinn’s methods. And so Quinn envied her.
She’d hoped, with her revelation, that she might be able to make things better between herself and Rachel, but she hadn’t failed to notice that she disappeared from the room every time the issue of Quinn’s illness came up. And Quinn understood, really - she’d treated the other girl so badly that she couldn’t be expected to forgive it just because she’d gotten sick. But she needed to make things right, for the sake of her own peace of mind, and as she reviewed her bucket list she thought she saw a way.
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“Quinn?” Rachel called, looking around the dimly lit auditorium. “Are you here?”
“Down here,” Quinn waved from the stage. “I’m trying to figure out how to turn the stupid spotlight on.” Rachel bounded down the aisle and up onto the stage, taking the control from her. Quinn shivered as their hands brushed. Rachel poked at the controls, almost randomly from Quinn’s point of view, and the stage was suddenly awash in light. Rachel smiled, in her element, until her gaze found Quinn’s and the smile vanished.
“Was that all you needed?”
“Oh, no - that wasn’t why I invited you, Rachel, I was hoping to have that on before you got here.”
“Then what can I do for you?”
“I,” Quinn scuffed the stage with her shoe, “I need your help.”
“What with?” Rachel looked baffled.
“I, uh, I was hoping I could take a shot at a solo for Sectionals. But I - I’m nowhere near the singer you are, Rachel. I know I won’t be able to compete with you, of course, I just thought maybe you could, uh, give me some singing lessons?”
Rachel was speechless. For a long moment she just stared open-mouthed.
“It’s okay, I mean, if you don’t want to. I know I’ve treated you worse than anyone, and it’s okay if you want to hate me. I’d hate me, if I was you.” Quinn hated the tears that welled up, fearing it would make her honest attempt at reconciliation look like an act, but she couldn’t stop them. She was beyond surprised when Rachel reached a hesitant hand out and laid it on her shoulder.
“I don’t hate you, Quinn.”
“Why? I’m not really a big fan of me lately, so you should really hate me.”
“Because it’s not who I am. I know the pressures you were under, and I forgive you.”
“Then why,” Quinn sniffled, “did you run out of the choir room twice in the last couple days? I thought-“
“It’s nothing like what you think, Quinn,” Rachel couldn’t meet her eyes. “I don’t hate you. But that’s a conversation for another day, okay? For now, I’m going to help you sing. Did you have a song selected?”
“No,” Quinn chewed her lip. “I don’t know anything about my, what do you call it? Range?”
“That’s the term, yes - but try not to limit yourself. Let’s find a song that you like, and we’ll make it work for you, okay? Come with me, there’s some sheet music over at the piano - if there’s nothing there you like, we’ll search the library.”
“Thanks, Rachel - I really appreciate this.”
Rachel smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s my pleasure, Quinn.”
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“Are you ready, Quinn?” Rachel whispered as they sat beside each other in Glee a week later.
“I think so.”
“You can do this. I distributed your sheet music to the rest of the club, so they can help you out with the second verse.”
“Really?” Quinn was touched. “Thank you.”
Will chose that moment to walk in, and Quinn’s hand shot up. “Mister Schue?”
“Quinn?”
“I wanted to propose a solo for Sectionals - I mean, one that I could sing.”
Will shot a look at Rachel who, to his surprise, only nodded. “Uh, sure, Quinn. Come on up.”
It was nerve-wracking, more than she’d expected, to stand in front of them and sing unaccompanied. “Uh, sorry if I suck,” she mumbled in the breath before the music started. But once it had, she found Rachel’s eyes and seemed to draw some calm from them.
“Well the stage was set the sun was sinkin’ low down
As they came to town to face another showdown
The lawmen cleared the people from the streets
All you blood-thirsty bystanders, will you try to find your seats?
Watch ‘em Duelin’, Doolin-Dalton, high or low, it’s all the same
Easy money and faithless women, you will never kill the pain
Go down, Bill Doolin, don’t you wonder why
Sooner or later we all have to die?
Sooner or later, that’s a stone-cold fact,
Four men ride out and only three ride back.”
As the instrumental portion of the song played, the others got up to take places behind her. Rachel nodded approvingly from her seat, and Quinn smiled as she realised they were following her instructions.
“The queen of diamonds let you down”, she resumed,
“She was just an empty fable
The queen of hearts you say you never met
Your twisted fate has found you out and it’s finally turned the tables
Stole your dreams and paid you with regret.
Desperado,”
The others sang around her, “is there gonna be anything left, is there gonna be anything?”
“You sealed your fate up a long time ago.”
“Ain’t it hard when you’re all alone in the center ring?”
“Now there’s no time left to borrow.”
“Is there gonna be anything left?”
“Only stardust”
“Maybe tomorrow.” With their parts finished, the others silently took their seats as Quinn finished the song.
“Maybe - maybe tomorrow,
Maybe tomorrow.
Desperado.”
She let the last note hang in the air, her head bowed, until Finn cheered. She looked up, tears in her eyes, and she found Rachel sitting dry-eyed in her chair. “Thank you,” she mouthed, and Rachel nodded slightly. Then Finn charged down to the podium and squeezed her tightly, lifting her off the ground in his enthusiasm, and the moment was gone. Will cleared his throat.
“Finn,” she patted his shoulder. “Put me down for a sec.” He turned around instead so that she could see Will, and she chuckled.
“That was excellent, Quinn. That was one of the more ambitious pieces you’ve tried since you joined Glee, and you handled it really well.”
“Thanks,” she blushed. “The credit goes to Rachel, though - she gives really good singing lessons.”
“Take a bow, Rachel,” he gestured, and she smiled. “I think we can put that performance up for the vote at the end of this week. In fact, I’m just realizing that we’ve never done anything by The Eagles. I think we should rectify that as soon as possible.”
“Mister Schue?” Rachel’s hand waved.
“Yes?”
“If it’s acceptable to my fellow Glee Clubbers, I propose that we immediately adopt Quinn’s song for Sectionals.” There was a deafening silence as everyone, Quinn included, stared at her wide-eyed.
“Seconded,” Finn added quietly.
“Uh - all in favour?” Will tried to re-establish some order.
Every hand raised. Quinn gasped.
“Motion carried,” Rachel nodded emphatically.
“Finn, put me down!” Quinn slapped his shoulder. He did, and she took a few steps toward Rachel. “I-“ she started, but didn’t get any further.
“Now, if you’ll all excuse me, I have an appointment with my dads this afternoon, so I’ll have to leave this meeting early.” Without waiting for a reply, Rachel got up and vanished into the hallway.
“Okay, what the hell was that about?” Mercedes looked at Quinn, who shrugged.
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“Could you pass the potatoes, Mrs Fabray?”
“Please, Finn, I’ve asked you a hundred times - call me Judy.” She passed the heavy plate, and he set it down between himself and Quinn.
“Sorry - I’ll remember next time, I promise.”
“I believe,” Russell said suddenly from the head of the table, “that we need to have a talk.”
“Daddy?”
“Not you, sweetheart - your boyfriend and I. I’d like you to know, son, that just because my daughter’s being called up to heaven soon doesn’t mean you have permission to do anything debauched or perverse with her. My baby’s girl’s a virgin, and I intend that she return to heaven in that perfect state.”
“Daddy!” Quinn shouted. “Stop it! Finn’s never been anything but a gentleman, and-“
“Judy, could you take Quinn to the kitchen, please? I’d like to finish without being interrupted.”
Judy grabbed Quinn’s hand and pulled her up. “Mom,” she begged, “stop this.”
“Come on, Quinnie, we’ve got dessert to plate,” the grip on her hand turned to steel, and she was dragged from the room.
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“I’m so sorry,” Quinn repeated as she walked Finn to his mother’s van. “I had no idea he was going to do something so stupid.”
“It’s okay, really,” he assured her. “He just worries about you, that’s all.” Finn kissed her cheek and climbed into the van. Quinn waved to Carol and returned to the house. Russell stopped her in the kitchen with a word.
“Quinn,” he said, his voice a dangerously low tone that she recognised instantly. She stopped dead and gave him her full attention. “You are not too old to be put over my knee, cancer or no. Do you understand?” she nodded. “Good. Don’t interrupt me when I’m speaking. I’ve taught you better than that. Now go to your room.”
Bottling her rage, she forced herself to nod politely. “Yes, daddy.” She retreated down the hall, resisting the urge to slam her door. Digging in her bedside table, she found her list and a pencil, and added two more items to it. And then her thoughts turned to Rachel - the other girl was confusing her. She’d given the singing lessons freely, and never got fed up or frustrated, but politely rebuffed any attempts at real conversation during the lessons with an admonishment that they should be working on Quinn’s voice. And then today, she’d left without even letting Quinn thank her. Why? If she wasn’t lying, and didn’t hate her, then why didn’t she want to talk?
Her phone buzzed beside her, and she checked it to find a text from Finn.
Id never ask u to do anything. U kno that?
She smiled. I know. Sorry again.
It’s okay. Love u, c u tomorrow.
She put the phone down, only for it to ring. She recognised Santana’s number and answered with a sigh.
“Yeah?”
“Hi, Q,” it was obvious from Santana’s voice that she’d been crying. Quinn didn’t interrupt, just waited. “Did, uh, did you want to go shopping with me and B tomorrow? We’ll buy you supper and everything.”
“Sure, San. We can go after Glee, if you want.”
“Sounds good,” Santana sniffled. “See you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, San.” She hung up, and smiled as another item for her list jumped to mind. She scribbled it quickly, before it could escape her.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi, Quinn!" Brittany waved excitedly. "We saw a duck on the way here!"
"Seriously?"
"Well, it was inflatable - it's the one in front of Crazy Bob's Cars," Santana's voice quavered on the last word.
"Please, San, please don't," Quinn begged, sniffling. "If you cry, I'm going to cry, and if I cry, I don't know if I can stop."
"Sorry," Santana rubbed furiously at her eyes. "I'm trying. I don't know how you're not crying anyway, like, all the time."
The three of them linked hands and walked into the mall. "It's really hard," Quinn admitted. "I just feel like - I don't have much time anyway, you know? I can't afford to waste any of it being sad."
"Can we eat first?" Brittany asked.
"Yeah," Quinn agreed, "let's get something really disgustingly fatty. Ooh, let's share a banana split! We haven't done that since fifth grade!"
"Things were so much easier back then," Santana said sadly. They walked to the food court and ordered not one, but two banana splits, at Brittany's insistence.
"Bananas need to be in pairs," she said gravely. "That's what the cat said."
"Okay, Britt," Quinn smiled, struggling to keep the tears from her eyes. "You know I love you, right?"
"I love you too, Quinn - you're like a rainbow!"
Their conversation turned to more trivial matters then, in an attempt to keep any further tears at bay. They talked in a way they hadn't since high school had begun, since before the demands of being a Cheerio and the constant, daily struggle for popularity had driven an inexorable wedge between them. Since then, even when they were on friendly terms, they were never truly friends - with the exception of Brittany, whose naive nature had meant she was always the one real, friendly link between the two of them. They talked of Glee, of hopes and dreams and old times, and though their stomachs hurt when they were finished eating, it was the best meal any of them had eaten in a very long time.
When the last bit of hot fudge was scooped from the second dish, Quinn cleared her throat. "Before we go shopping, I need to ask the two of you for something. And I really need you to say yes - I hate to blackmail you, but this is on my bucket list, okay?"
Santana looked wary. "What?"
"I need you and Britt to be together - I mean, really be together. I know that you guys care about each other - hell, I know you love each other. So set it all aside, okay? Don't worry about what coach is going to think, or what people will say. Be together, be happy, be in love. I'm not going to get the chance, so I need you to do to it for me."
"I’m crap at being a girlfriend, Q, you know that. But - I’ll try, okay?”
“I will too,” Brittany agreed.
“Now,” Santana rubbed furiously at her eyes, “where are we headed? I want to max out the credit card.”
"Glad you asked," Quinn grinned.
8.). Get a ridiculously revealing outfit - the kind that would make daddy flip if he ever saw it.
Author: cranberry_pi
Rating: R for themes.
Spoilers: Up to "Mattress," sort of. It's AU in that Quinn had a pregnancy scare, but wasn't really pregnant.
Summary: An attempt at this prompt.
WARNINGS: Cancer, Character Death.
Envy. It wasn’t an emotion most people would associate with Quinn Fabray. After all, she had everything - the nuclear family, the shiny car, the looks, the position at the top of McKinley’s social hierarchy - everything. Who could she possibly be envious of? Most people would have laughed if she told them, would have assumed it was the setup for an elaborate punchline. How could Quinn Fabray ever envy Rachel Berry?
But she did. The envy was so powerful that it manifested in her sometimes brutal mistreatment of the other girl. Rachel Berry was the reason she’d joined Glee - not the desperate desire to keep Finn at her side, the reason she’d given Sue and Santana. When she’d snuck into the auditorium to watch them perform for the first time that fall afternoon, it wasn’t Finn she was watching. It was Rachel - her voice sent shivers down Quinn’s spine, raised goosebumps on her arms. It was awe-inspiring, to see someone so utterly dedicated to a goal.
Not that Quinn didn’t know a thing or two about dedication, but Rachel went about achieving her goal in a totally different way. There was no bullying from Rachel - no ordering of slushies, no cutting comments to other students when they were at their most vulnerable. She was occasionally tactless, but from what Quinn could discern that was simply a lack of social graces on her part rather than a deliberate attempt to be cruel. And she would be great - she was immensely talented, and she’d rise to the top without ever having to sink to Quinn’s methods. And so Quinn envied her.
She’d hoped, with her revelation, that she might be able to make things better between herself and Rachel, but she hadn’t failed to notice that she disappeared from the room every time the issue of Quinn’s illness came up. And Quinn understood, really - she’d treated the other girl so badly that she couldn’t be expected to forgive it just because she’d gotten sick. But she needed to make things right, for the sake of her own peace of mind, and as she reviewed her bucket list she thought she saw a way.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Quinn?” Rachel called, looking around the dimly lit auditorium. “Are you here?”
“Down here,” Quinn waved from the stage. “I’m trying to figure out how to turn the stupid spotlight on.” Rachel bounded down the aisle and up onto the stage, taking the control from her. Quinn shivered as their hands brushed. Rachel poked at the controls, almost randomly from Quinn’s point of view, and the stage was suddenly awash in light. Rachel smiled, in her element, until her gaze found Quinn’s and the smile vanished.
“Was that all you needed?”
“Oh, no - that wasn’t why I invited you, Rachel, I was hoping to have that on before you got here.”
“Then what can I do for you?”
“I,” Quinn scuffed the stage with her shoe, “I need your help.”
“What with?” Rachel looked baffled.
“I, uh, I was hoping I could take a shot at a solo for Sectionals. But I - I’m nowhere near the singer you are, Rachel. I know I won’t be able to compete with you, of course, I just thought maybe you could, uh, give me some singing lessons?”
Rachel was speechless. For a long moment she just stared open-mouthed.
“It’s okay, I mean, if you don’t want to. I know I’ve treated you worse than anyone, and it’s okay if you want to hate me. I’d hate me, if I was you.” Quinn hated the tears that welled up, fearing it would make her honest attempt at reconciliation look like an act, but she couldn’t stop them. She was beyond surprised when Rachel reached a hesitant hand out and laid it on her shoulder.
“I don’t hate you, Quinn.”
“Why? I’m not really a big fan of me lately, so you should really hate me.”
“Because it’s not who I am. I know the pressures you were under, and I forgive you.”
“Then why,” Quinn sniffled, “did you run out of the choir room twice in the last couple days? I thought-“
“It’s nothing like what you think, Quinn,” Rachel couldn’t meet her eyes. “I don’t hate you. But that’s a conversation for another day, okay? For now, I’m going to help you sing. Did you have a song selected?”
“No,” Quinn chewed her lip. “I don’t know anything about my, what do you call it? Range?”
“That’s the term, yes - but try not to limit yourself. Let’s find a song that you like, and we’ll make it work for you, okay? Come with me, there’s some sheet music over at the piano - if there’s nothing there you like, we’ll search the library.”
“Thanks, Rachel - I really appreciate this.”
Rachel smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s my pleasure, Quinn.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Are you ready, Quinn?” Rachel whispered as they sat beside each other in Glee a week later.
“I think so.”
“You can do this. I distributed your sheet music to the rest of the club, so they can help you out with the second verse.”
“Really?” Quinn was touched. “Thank you.”
Will chose that moment to walk in, and Quinn’s hand shot up. “Mister Schue?”
“Quinn?”
“I wanted to propose a solo for Sectionals - I mean, one that I could sing.”
Will shot a look at Rachel who, to his surprise, only nodded. “Uh, sure, Quinn. Come on up.”
It was nerve-wracking, more than she’d expected, to stand in front of them and sing unaccompanied. “Uh, sorry if I suck,” she mumbled in the breath before the music started. But once it had, she found Rachel’s eyes and seemed to draw some calm from them.
“Well the stage was set the sun was sinkin’ low down
As they came to town to face another showdown
The lawmen cleared the people from the streets
All you blood-thirsty bystanders, will you try to find your seats?
Watch ‘em Duelin’, Doolin-Dalton, high or low, it’s all the same
Easy money and faithless women, you will never kill the pain
Go down, Bill Doolin, don’t you wonder why
Sooner or later we all have to die?
Sooner or later, that’s a stone-cold fact,
Four men ride out and only three ride back.”
As the instrumental portion of the song played, the others got up to take places behind her. Rachel nodded approvingly from her seat, and Quinn smiled as she realised they were following her instructions.
“The queen of diamonds let you down”, she resumed,
“She was just an empty fable
The queen of hearts you say you never met
Your twisted fate has found you out and it’s finally turned the tables
Stole your dreams and paid you with regret.
Desperado,”
The others sang around her, “is there gonna be anything left, is there gonna be anything?”
“You sealed your fate up a long time ago.”
“Ain’t it hard when you’re all alone in the center ring?”
“Now there’s no time left to borrow.”
“Is there gonna be anything left?”
“Only stardust”
“Maybe tomorrow.” With their parts finished, the others silently took their seats as Quinn finished the song.
“Maybe - maybe tomorrow,
Maybe tomorrow.
Desperado.”
She let the last note hang in the air, her head bowed, until Finn cheered. She looked up, tears in her eyes, and she found Rachel sitting dry-eyed in her chair. “Thank you,” she mouthed, and Rachel nodded slightly. Then Finn charged down to the podium and squeezed her tightly, lifting her off the ground in his enthusiasm, and the moment was gone. Will cleared his throat.
“Finn,” she patted his shoulder. “Put me down for a sec.” He turned around instead so that she could see Will, and she chuckled.
“That was excellent, Quinn. That was one of the more ambitious pieces you’ve tried since you joined Glee, and you handled it really well.”
“Thanks,” she blushed. “The credit goes to Rachel, though - she gives really good singing lessons.”
“Take a bow, Rachel,” he gestured, and she smiled. “I think we can put that performance up for the vote at the end of this week. In fact, I’m just realizing that we’ve never done anything by The Eagles. I think we should rectify that as soon as possible.”
“Mister Schue?” Rachel’s hand waved.
“Yes?”
“If it’s acceptable to my fellow Glee Clubbers, I propose that we immediately adopt Quinn’s song for Sectionals.” There was a deafening silence as everyone, Quinn included, stared at her wide-eyed.
“Seconded,” Finn added quietly.
“Uh - all in favour?” Will tried to re-establish some order.
Every hand raised. Quinn gasped.
“Motion carried,” Rachel nodded emphatically.
“Finn, put me down!” Quinn slapped his shoulder. He did, and she took a few steps toward Rachel. “I-“ she started, but didn’t get any further.
“Now, if you’ll all excuse me, I have an appointment with my dads this afternoon, so I’ll have to leave this meeting early.” Without waiting for a reply, Rachel got up and vanished into the hallway.
“Okay, what the hell was that about?” Mercedes looked at Quinn, who shrugged.
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“Could you pass the potatoes, Mrs Fabray?”
“Please, Finn, I’ve asked you a hundred times - call me Judy.” She passed the heavy plate, and he set it down between himself and Quinn.
“Sorry - I’ll remember next time, I promise.”
“I believe,” Russell said suddenly from the head of the table, “that we need to have a talk.”
“Daddy?”
“Not you, sweetheart - your boyfriend and I. I’d like you to know, son, that just because my daughter’s being called up to heaven soon doesn’t mean you have permission to do anything debauched or perverse with her. My baby’s girl’s a virgin, and I intend that she return to heaven in that perfect state.”
“Daddy!” Quinn shouted. “Stop it! Finn’s never been anything but a gentleman, and-“
“Judy, could you take Quinn to the kitchen, please? I’d like to finish without being interrupted.”
Judy grabbed Quinn’s hand and pulled her up. “Mom,” she begged, “stop this.”
“Come on, Quinnie, we’ve got dessert to plate,” the grip on her hand turned to steel, and she was dragged from the room.
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“I’m so sorry,” Quinn repeated as she walked Finn to his mother’s van. “I had no idea he was going to do something so stupid.”
“It’s okay, really,” he assured her. “He just worries about you, that’s all.” Finn kissed her cheek and climbed into the van. Quinn waved to Carol and returned to the house. Russell stopped her in the kitchen with a word.
“Quinn,” he said, his voice a dangerously low tone that she recognised instantly. She stopped dead and gave him her full attention. “You are not too old to be put over my knee, cancer or no. Do you understand?” she nodded. “Good. Don’t interrupt me when I’m speaking. I’ve taught you better than that. Now go to your room.”
Bottling her rage, she forced herself to nod politely. “Yes, daddy.” She retreated down the hall, resisting the urge to slam her door. Digging in her bedside table, she found her list and a pencil, and added two more items to it. And then her thoughts turned to Rachel - the other girl was confusing her. She’d given the singing lessons freely, and never got fed up or frustrated, but politely rebuffed any attempts at real conversation during the lessons with an admonishment that they should be working on Quinn’s voice. And then today, she’d left without even letting Quinn thank her. Why? If she wasn’t lying, and didn’t hate her, then why didn’t she want to talk?
Her phone buzzed beside her, and she checked it to find a text from Finn.
Id never ask u to do anything. U kno that?
She smiled. I know. Sorry again.
It’s okay. Love u, c u tomorrow.
She put the phone down, only for it to ring. She recognised Santana’s number and answered with a sigh.
“Yeah?”
“Hi, Q,” it was obvious from Santana’s voice that she’d been crying. Quinn didn’t interrupt, just waited. “Did, uh, did you want to go shopping with me and B tomorrow? We’ll buy you supper and everything.”
“Sure, San. We can go after Glee, if you want.”
“Sounds good,” Santana sniffled. “See you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, San.” She hung up, and smiled as another item for her list jumped to mind. She scribbled it quickly, before it could escape her.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi, Quinn!" Brittany waved excitedly. "We saw a duck on the way here!"
"Seriously?"
"Well, it was inflatable - it's the one in front of Crazy Bob's Cars," Santana's voice quavered on the last word.
"Please, San, please don't," Quinn begged, sniffling. "If you cry, I'm going to cry, and if I cry, I don't know if I can stop."
"Sorry," Santana rubbed furiously at her eyes. "I'm trying. I don't know how you're not crying anyway, like, all the time."
The three of them linked hands and walked into the mall. "It's really hard," Quinn admitted. "I just feel like - I don't have much time anyway, you know? I can't afford to waste any of it being sad."
"Can we eat first?" Brittany asked.
"Yeah," Quinn agreed, "let's get something really disgustingly fatty. Ooh, let's share a banana split! We haven't done that since fifth grade!"
"Things were so much easier back then," Santana said sadly. They walked to the food court and ordered not one, but two banana splits, at Brittany's insistence.
"Bananas need to be in pairs," she said gravely. "That's what the cat said."
"Okay, Britt," Quinn smiled, struggling to keep the tears from her eyes. "You know I love you, right?"
"I love you too, Quinn - you're like a rainbow!"
Their conversation turned to more trivial matters then, in an attempt to keep any further tears at bay. They talked in a way they hadn't since high school had begun, since before the demands of being a Cheerio and the constant, daily struggle for popularity had driven an inexorable wedge between them. Since then, even when they were on friendly terms, they were never truly friends - with the exception of Brittany, whose naive nature had meant she was always the one real, friendly link between the two of them. They talked of Glee, of hopes and dreams and old times, and though their stomachs hurt when they were finished eating, it was the best meal any of them had eaten in a very long time.
When the last bit of hot fudge was scooped from the second dish, Quinn cleared her throat. "Before we go shopping, I need to ask the two of you for something. And I really need you to say yes - I hate to blackmail you, but this is on my bucket list, okay?"
Santana looked wary. "What?"
"I need you and Britt to be together - I mean, really be together. I know that you guys care about each other - hell, I know you love each other. So set it all aside, okay? Don't worry about what coach is going to think, or what people will say. Be together, be happy, be in love. I'm not going to get the chance, so I need you to do to it for me."
"I’m crap at being a girlfriend, Q, you know that. But - I’ll try, okay?”
“I will too,” Brittany agreed.
“Now,” Santana rubbed furiously at her eyes, “where are we headed? I want to max out the credit card.”
"Glad you asked," Quinn grinned.
8.). Get a ridiculously revealing outfit - the kind that would make daddy flip if he ever saw it.