Fic: Identity (4/9) Part 1
“What happened in there?” Rachel demanded the moment they were out of the choir room. “You looked like you’d seen a ghost!”
“One of the other songs in his book had a name in the lyrics - Ramona.”
Rachel blinked. “And?”
“That’s me. I mean, it’s not me, but - there’s someone who used to call me that. I know it doesn’t make sense - Quinn and Ramona aren’t even close to the same name, so why would anyone be calling me that?”
“I can’t imagine,” Rachel frowned.
“It kind of shook me up - I can’t remember who it was that called me that, and there’s something,” she swallowed, “there’s a bad memory tied up in there somewhere. I’m sorry I scared you - I just need to think about it for a while, see if I can put the pieces together. Did you like the song, though?”
Rachel beamed. “You were amazing! I can’t verbalise just how happy it made me to see you up there, performing a song from Singin’ in the Rain!”
“I was inspired,” Quinn bit her lip. “It’s really too bad we’re in school - I feel a strong urge to kiss you right now.”
Rachel felt her knees give out a little. “That - that really is a shame. Because I have the distinct urge to let you.”
“Later,” Quinn promised. “Did you notice Mister Schue rigged the draw for duets?”
“What?” Rachel had barely noticed the draw occurring, her mind busily replaying Quinn’s performance, over and over. “Why would he do that?”
“When he drew for your partner, he looked at the paper and frowned. He looked at Puck, and then said it was me. I think he’s worried I’ll freak out if I get paired with anyone else. Which is fine by me, because it means I’ll get to sing with you,” she grinned. “Maybe we can use that to get me out of those placement exams somehow.”
“Quinn.”
“I know, I know,” she rolled her eyes. “I can’t do that. So, what have we got left this afternoon?”
“Math, and history,” they started walking, slowly, toward the next class. “Have you given any thought to what you’d like to do this weekend?”
“Not a bit,” Quinn shook her head. “But I’m sure you have some ideas?”
“Nothing definitive,” Rachel admitted. “I thought I’d wait and see if you had any preference before I made plans. I’d offer to show you around the town, but there’s very little town to see.”
“I wouldn’t say no to a tour, though - any chance of a picnic at the end of it?”
“I think that could certainly be arranged,” Rachel smiled.
“Q!” Santana called after them. Quinn looked over her shoulder to see the Cheerio catching up quickly. She slowed down to let her walk alongside.
“What do you want?”
“I - I wanted to know if you’d join us for a meeting tonight.” The invitation seemed to take an effort, and Santana looked like she’d bitten into something sour.
“Who’s ‘us?’”
“The celibacy club.”
Santana was left standing in the hallway, baffled, as Quinn led Rachel away - laughing so hard that she could barely stand up.
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“I think I’m tired of school already,” Quinn squinted against the bright afternoon sun. “I’m glad it’s the weekend.” She toyed idly with her necklace.
“Well, it’s only been a week,” Rachel reminded her, “you’ll be much more tired of it if you end up here for the whole year.”
“Comforting,” Quinn poked her in the side. “What are we doing tonight? It’s Friday night, after all - we should go and do something fun.”
“I,” Rachel blushed. “I’m not really accustomed to having anything social to do on Fridays. Generally I use them to record my MySpace videos.”
“MySpace?”
“You - are you joking, Quinn? I’m sorry,” she added hurriedly, “I’m not making fun of you, I promise, I just - you really don’t know what it is?”
“Not a clue. Is it a computer thing? I wasn’t,” she stopped, blinking slowly. “I wasn’t allowed on the computer without someone watching me. Because I might -“ she trailed off. “Damn. Lost it.”
“You’re getting there, though!” Rachel beamed. “Look at how much you remember now, compared to Monday morning!” She suddenly looked worried.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she shook her head. “I just hope - no, it’s stupid.”
“Rachel.”
“I just hope, when you’ve remembered everything, that you’ll still-“
“Stop,” Quinn stepped in front of her. “I know exactly what you’re going to say. There’s nothing I could remember about me that’ll change anything between us. Okay? I promise.”
Rachel nodded.
“Now, what are we doing tonight? Want my help with your MySpace thing?”
“No, we’ll find something entertaining for the both of us to do, I promise. First, though, we’re going home for dinner.”
“And what,” Quinn took her hand, “are we having for dinner tonight?”
“Well, it’s Friday,” Rachel mused, “so I’m guessing it’ll be pizza of one sort or another.”
“Sounds good,” Quinn smiled.
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“How’s she doing?” James asked Rachel. They had the kitchen to themselves, washing the dishes.
“Good, I think. Better, anyway. Since the police brought her back that necklace, she’s remembered a few things - they’re little things, and without the context to really understand them, but it’s progress all the same.”
“That’s terrific, honey - I hope it keeps up. And that both of you are prepared for the fact that it might not - the memories might come back in fits and starts, and there may be periods where nothing comes back for a long time. Oh - and if you’re looking for something to do tonight, you should probably take her shopping, you know.”
“For?”
“Well, more clothes - and she’ll need school supplies, too, before next week.”
“Right. There is,” Rachel looked around, lowering her voice, “one thing that worries me a little bit.”
“What’s that?”
“She hasn’t said a word about finding an OB-GYN. I mean, I’m sure everything’s fine, but still, it’s a bit worrisome. I don’t know if she just doesn’t want to deal with the baby, or what-“
“Well, that might be the case, Rachel, but you have to remember, too - she doesn’t have insurance. The cost of an appointment like that would be astronomical, especially if there are tests required. As much as I’d love to offer to pay, we couldn’t afford that.”
“That’s not fair,” Rachel complained. James raised his eyebrow, and she shook her head. “Not you guys - I don’t mean that. I mean, she needs care, and she can’t get it.”
“I’m sure it won’t take the police too long to sort out her situation - once that happens, if she or her family has insurance, they’ll get it taken care of.”
“I wish they’d just let her use her own money.”
“You heard the Sergeant, honey. Until they know where it came from, they can’t just hand it over to her.” Rachel sighed. “Try not to worry, okay? She’s taking her vitamins and eating properly, so that’s all we can do for now. Here,” he took the dishcloth from her, “I’ll finish up - your lazy father can help out too, if he can get himself off the couch. Take Quinn out for some retail therapy. What are you two doing this weekend, anyway?”
“I promised Quinn a tour of Lima - and a picnic.”
“Oh!” he exclaimed. “Speaking of - I’ve got something for you.” He grabbed a piece of paper from the refrigerator. “Here’s the Fabrays’ address, if you want to make that part of your tour.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Rachel embraced him.
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In the living room, Tom and Quinn had fallen easily into conversation, which came to a sudden halt when Tom asked quietly: “Quinn, what are your intentions toward Rachel?”
Choking on a mouthful of soda, Quinn took a minute to recover. When she did, she didn’t know exactly how to answer. “Huh?” was what she settled for.
“I’m not dumb, Quinn - I was a teenager once too. I’ve seen the way the two of you look at each other, the way you both adjust your position in a room based on where the other is. I’m just curious as to your feelings, that’s all.”
Quinn sat silently for a minute, trying to phrase her answer. “I like her,” she said earnestly, rushing her words out. “If we’d known each other more than a week, I think I’d even say I’m falling for her. I know that my life is a mess, and maybe I have no business pursuing this,” she swallowed, trying to clear the lump in her throat, “and if you want me to break off - whatever this is, before we get in too deep, then I get it. I totally understand.”
“Absolutely not,” Tom shook his head. “That’s not what I meant at all. Rachel is happy with you - happier than I’ve seen her in a long time. I don’t think - well, you go to school with her, you can tell me - she doesn’t have a lot of friends, does she?”
“I don’t think that that school is kind to people like her,” Quinn shook her head. “She sparkles, and I don’t think the other kids respond kindly to that. It’s easier if you just blend in, I’d imagine.”
“That’s why I want to make sure you’re clear on what you’re getting into. I don’t want either of you hurt.”
“If I’ve ever been in a relationship before,” Quinn said softly, “then I don’t remember it. But this - what I feel around her - is what I imagine it should feel like. I will never hurt her, and as long as I know her I’ll try and keep anyone else from hurting her either.”
Tom smiled. “When she first brought you here, I was worried. Not about you,” he read Quinn’s face, “about her. I thought she was treating you like some kind of project - I can’t tell you how many kittens-” he shook his head. “Not important. The point is, I’m not worried anymore. She likes you, Quinn. I hope - no matter what’s in your past when it finally shakes out - that even if being girlfriends doesn’t work out, you’ll at least stay friends.”
“We will,” Quinn nodded. “I promise.”
“Then that’s all I needed to know,” Tom smiled.
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The shopping trip was productive but uneventful, and the girls found themselves back in Rachel’s room before nine o’ clock.
“So,” Quinn began, “what - mmmph-“ her question was cut off when Rachel’s lips pressed firmly against hers, backing her up against the closed bedroom door. Her eyes closed and she made a sound deep in her throat, letting her mouth open and feeling Rachel’s tongue probing gently. She met it with her own, reaching out to squeeze Rachel’s ass through the thin material of her dress.
When they came up for air, both breathing hard and fast, Quinn’s eyes were dark with need. “Rachel,” she whispered. “We need to stop now.” She put her hands back at her side.
“Why?” Rachel licked her lips.
“Because if you kiss me like that again, I’m going to - I won’t be able to stop.”
“I don’t want to stop,” Rachel pressed forward, and Quinn put a hand on her chest.
“Rachel - it’s only been two days since we kissed for the first time. Four days since we met - I don’t want you to rush into anything. I don’t want to rush into anything.”
“I want to touch you,” Rachel breathed. “All day - after you sang at Glee, all I could think about was touching you.”
“God,” Quinn ducked under Rachel’s arm and moved a few steps away. “You have no idea how much I want that, mi amor. I’m just afraid we’re going too fast.”
Rachel sighed, running a hand through her hair. “You’re right - I’m sorry. Can we kiss some more, though, if I promise to keep my hands to myself?”
Quinn’s resistance wavered and fell with a crash, and she nodded. “We can do that.”