I Can Be Your Strength Pt. 7
Title: I Can Be Your Strength (Part 7)
Author: Me
Length: ~3000
Rating: R
Spoilers: Kinda AU, all episodes just to be safe
Summary: Something has been off about Rachel. For a long time. It usually was just forgotten. But, now, it's gotten worse and from what she learns, it's only going to progressively worsen. Is she strong enough to keep fighting?
Warning: This is gonna be pretty angsty. So..if you don't like that, TURN AWAY! But there will be nice parts so...just read it =D
Disclaimer: I own nothing
A/N: I picture Quinn's sister to look like Kristen Bell. I think they look a bit alike.
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part6
"It was a phase."
The two sisters stared at each other, sitting down on Riley's old bed. Quinn didn't believe a word her sister had said. Then again, she never did.
"I don't believe you."
Riley continued to stare abjectly at her sister.
"Well, it's the truth."
"Do you still love her?"
Riley looked away. Her lower lip began to tremble and suddenly tears were erupting and flowing down her cheeks.
"Can we please not talk about this anymore?"
Looking into her sister's vulnerable eyes, Quinn knew the answer.
"Are you a lesbian," she asked softly.
"No," her sister cried out. "I just - Alex is the only girl I've ever had feelings for."
Quinn was utterly confused. Was her sister a lesbian? Was she telling the truth? The younger blond didn't know what to believe. She stuck to what she knew.
"But the Bible says -"
"No. No. No. I'm all for the Bible. I know what it says. I would not be considered a lesbian okay? Not in God's eyes. Lesbians are whores. Disgusting filthy whores. I'm not."
Quinn frantically shook her head, unable to understand her sister's reasoning.
"No! The Bible -"
"Quinn! Don't you think I've had this discussion with myself before? I'm not a lesbian."
"Well, Alex is a lesbian. She looks just like how Dad -" Shit.
"You saw Alex?" Her sister quickly turned to look at her.
"Yeah," Quinn responded weakly.
"What? Where? When?"
"Uh. A restaurant. Not too long ago."
"But how did you two meet?"
"She, uh, she recognized my friend. She introduced me to Alex."
"Did she tell you we dated?"
"No. I just happened to remember her name and remember it in conversations I've had with you."
"Did you get her number?" Riley asked full of hope.
"No, but I can ask my friend -"
"Are they dating?" The older blond asked bitterly.
"No! No."
"Oh." Riley breathed a sigh of relief.
Quinn's ring-tone caused the two of them to jump. The younger blond got up from her sister's bed and walked over to her room to retrieve her phone.
Quinn! Kurt gave me yr #. I found a song. We should rehearse pronto! are u free right now?
The blond sighed and shrugged to herself.
Yeah. Give me your address and I'll be there in a few.
"Quinn."
The younger blond twisted her neck to look at her doorway.
"What," She asked as she made her way to her closet and began to pull out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
"Don't tell mom and dad."
"Okay."
Riley barely noticed Quinn was pulling out clothes.
"What are you doing?"
"I gotta go rehearse with my duet partner for Glee."
"You're in Glee?"
"Yes. Now get out so I can change!" Quinn growled and pushed her sister out of the room as she closed the door.
"That's my Switchfoot shirt by the way!" She yelled through the door.
The cheerleader just rolled her eyes.
Sunshine ended up living outside of Lima and Quinn had trouble finding the filipina's house. Once the blond found it, however, she couldn't believe it. The house was huge. It was painted white and a gate enclosed everything. Luckily, it was open so all Quinn had to do was walk inside after she parked the car across the street. She was quickly greeted by a grinning Sunshine.
"Hi, Quinn."
"Hey." The blond muttered, still in amazement of what she saw.
"I promise to show you the inside of my house later, okay? But right now let's go practice. I'm excited!"
The cheerleader just let out a small chuckle as she took in the sights. Sunshine brought Quinn to her huge backyard with a large pool smack dab in the middle.
"Come, sit." Sunshine pulled Quinn onto a lawn chair. She pulled out sheet music. "You like Moulin Rouge?"
The blond nodded her head slowly as she accepted the papers. Her eyes found the title Elephant Love Medley.
"I'm not singing this," she turned to Sunshine. "Not with you."
The filipina frowned.
"But why?"
"Two girls singing a love duet? I'm not Brittany or Santana."
"Well, it doesn't have to be two girls." Sunshine muttered.
"I didn't realize you had the ability to grow a male appendage, Rainbow."
"We could role-play! I could be Christian -"
"Whoa whoa, why do you get to be Christian?"
Sunshine shrugged.
"You can't do his part."
"Yes I can," Quinn shouted and stood up. "Just watch me!"
She looked at the sheet music then threw it down at her side as she turned and pointed to Sunshine.
Love is a many splendored thing, love, lifts us up where we
belong, all you need is love.
Please, don't start that again.
Sunshine played along, shaking her head and getting into character.
All you need is love.
Quinn sang, leaning over to Sunshine.
A girl has got to eat.
All you need is love.
Quinn stepped closer.
Or she'll end up on the streets.
The filipina stood up and turned away from the cheerleader.
All you need is love.
Love is just a game.
The blond took a leap forward and was close behind Sunshine.
I was made for loving you baby, you were made for loving me.
The only way of loving me baby, is to pay a lovely fee.
Sunshine turned her head and looked at Quinn coquettishly.
Just one night, give me, just one night.
There's no way, cause you can't pay.
The small filipina fully turned and pushed Quinn away. The blond rebounded back.
In the name of love, one night in the name of love.
You crazy fool, I won't give in to you.
Sunshine shook her head and walked away from the cheerleader. Quinn briskly walked to grab her arm and pull the small brunette back.
Don't leave me this way, I can't survive, without your sweet
love, oh baby, don't leave me this way.
Sunshine turned away with her arms crossed.
You'd think that people would have had enough of silly
love songs.
Quinn placed one hand on the brunette's arm and another on her waist as she sang softly.
I look around me and I see, it isn't so, oh no.
Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs.
Sunshine's brown eyes looked up into Quinn's hazel ones. She found herself tilting her head up to reach a much taller blond's lips.
Well what's wrong with that, I'd like to know.
The singing was interrupted by a buzz coming from Quinn's pants. Sunshine giggled as the blond pulled out her phone.
Hey Quinn :) Do you want me to go over to your house?
It was Rachel. The cheerleader's face contoured with anger as she remembered Rachel's last text.
"What's wrong?" The brunette asked as she delicately placed a soft hand on Quinn's wrist.
No. I'm busy practicing my duet with Sunshine.
"Nothing," the cheerleader answered with a smile as she slipped her phone back in her pocket.
"All right. Do you want to continue?"
Quinn nodded.
-
Back at school the following Monday, Rachel knew something was wrong with Quinn. She was angry at her. She had not replied to any of the brunette's texts or calls during the whole weekend. She thought of going over to see if the blond was sick, but her fathers were against it. Not knowing what Quinn was doing made Rachel's mind flow crazy with ideas. Were Sunshine and Quinn friends now? Was the cheerleader going to replace Rachel? These scenarios were the exact reason why she wanted Sunshine to stay away from Quinn. The blond had always shown a weakness to beautiful voices and the filipina's voice was amazing. It certainly was better than the brunette's since she couldn't really sing anymore. Rachel sighed as she entered the library, hoping to find Artie.
"Hey, Rach." The boy said with a warm smile as she came into his view.
"Hi, Artie."
He noticed a change in Rachel's voice. It wasn't with the same pep as before.
"Is there something wrong?"
The brunette pulled up a chair and plopped down next to him.
"Everythin'. I tol' Quinn."
"Quinn? But she's your enemy!"
Artie's loud voice caused the librarian to shush him.
"I - I thought we were becomin' frien's, but now I thin' I did somethin' to make 'er mad and - and I'm afrai' I migh' lose her."
The bespectacled boy pushed up his glasses as he assessed the problem. His face wrinkled with thought.
"Rachel, do you, like, -"
"Artie, what do I do!" Rachel whispered a little too loud for the librarian.
"Find out what you did wrong. Then apologize I guess."
Rachel pouted. "But I don' know wha' I did wrong."
"Well, when did she start acting differently?"
"Friday 'fore school."
"Maybe she had a bad morning. Maybe you didn't do anything."
"I don' know. This mornin' she seemed like she didn' wan' to be 'round me."
"Rach, it's Quinn. Head Cheerleader? Maybe she's going back to her old ways."
"But she promised!" Rachel shouted.
Artie shut his book and turned to Rachel. He knew no amount of advice would make Rachel feel better.
"Hey, you know what always makes me feel better when I'm down?"
The brunette sniffled and shook her head.
"Wha'?"
"Riding my wheelchair at full speed. You want to try?"
Artie slid out from under the table and smiled at Rachel.
"But, where 'ill you be?"
The boy scratched the back of his neck.
"I'm not trying to be forward, Rach, but you can sit on me and we'll go ride down the hallway."
The brunette lifted an eyebrow at him.
"Wha' if someone catches us?"
"That's the whole thrill! Now let's get out of here before we lose our library privileges."
Rachel giggled all the way down the hallway as she clung onto Artie's neck and the wind blew back her long brown curls of hair. Artie chuckled as well. He never got too close to Rachel because of her obnoxious personality, but now he realized she wasn't all she seemed to be. He watched as her mouth ate up her face in a grin and her eyes closed shut, but not from fright. This was a whole new Rachel. He didn't want to say he hated the old Rachel, but this one was different. The disease matured her and ironically, made her a better person in and out. He felt this Rachel should be shared with everyone. Not just himself and possibly Quinn. He stopped and Rachel opened her eyes.
"Why'd you stop?" She breathed.
"You should tell Glee." Artie spoke seriously.
"No. They won' care."
"They think you ditched the team. I know the truth and I hate it when they call you disloyal. They need to know."
Rachel stood up.
"They don' need to know anythin'."
"Don't you think you owe it to them," Artie asked softly, while looking up at the brunette.
"I owe 'em nothin'. They ne'er cared!"
"We're a family."
"No," Rachel shook her head defiantly. "We're not," She walked away. "Not anymore."
Artie didn't know whether to follow Rachel or not, but he figured that she needed some alone time. The brunette walked down the hallway as fast as she could, but then her ears heard sound coming from the where Glee practices. She stopped and walked back to be able to peer through the door. What she saw made tears spring to her eyes.
"Okay Quinn, let's run through that chair part."
The blond scratched her head. "Can we just start from silly love songs?"
Sunshine sighed. "Okay."
She placed a chair in front of the pretend audience and turned her back to Quinn.
Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs.
Quinn placed her hands in their position while Sunshine turned to look up at her.
Well what's wrong with that, I'd like to know. 'Cause here I go
again!
Quinn ran up to the chair and placed one foot on the seat, the other on it's back. She extended her arms out with her palms open. Sunshine pretended to make an attempt to get the blond down.
Love lifts us up where we belong, where eagles fly, on
a mountain high.
Sunshine grabs onto the cheerleader's hand and she drops down by pushing the back of the chair to land on the floor and as soon as she steps off of the chair, the brunette crosses her arms.
Love makes us act like we are fools, throw our lives away
for one happy day.
Sunshine began climbing the steps to the audience. Quinn just watched and sang with her arms open.
We could be heroes, just for one day.
You, you will be mean.
Quinn slowly followed her up, chuckling while singing.
No I won't!
The brunette made it past behind the perceived crowd and was now on the other side.
And I, I - I'll drink all the time.
She continued until she had her back to the audience.
We should be lovers.
The brunette slightly turned her head to Quinn.
We can't do that.
Quinn leaped forward in front of the audience and Sunshine fully faced her.
We should be lovers, and that's a fact.
Though nothing, will keep us together.
The cheerleader slowly reached Sunshine.
We could steal time
Just for one day. We could be heroes, for ever and ever.
We could be heroes, for ever and ever. We could be heroes.
Quinn and Sunshine held hands and spun slowly around, their faces inches apart.
Just because I will always love you.
I
Can't help loving you
How wonderful life is
Now you're in the world.
Sunshine's face was tilted up toward Quinn. The brunette had her eyes shut and Quinn's hazel eyes frantically looked around her face, unsure of what to do next.
"Rachel," The brunette turned around to see Artie behind her. "What's wrong?"
She shook her head not being able to form words and continued walking. Artie wasn't tall enough to see through the doors, but he heard Sunshine and Quinn talking. He turned and followed Rachel.
"Are you mad?"
She shook her head again.
"Well, then tell me what's wrong. You're crying. Are they that good together?"
Rachel let out a sob and ducked into the girl's restroom. Artie sighed and remained outside. The brunette slid down to the floor and buried her face in her palms as tears seeped through the crevices of her hands. Quinn will just replace me, Rachel thought, just like everyone else in Glee did. She let out a sob and trembled. Maybe Finn was right.
The bell rung and Rachel quickly stood up and went to the sink to wash her face. She blew her nose, but that didn't stop other tears from trickling down her cheeks. She heard the door swing open and tried to wipe them with her tissue. She turned to the door and saw Quinn standing at the doorway. The brunette couldn't stop her lower lip from trembling or the tears from falling.
The cheerleader's eyes studied the girl in front of her.
"Why are you crying?" Quinn asked in a cold tone.
Rachel shook her head and attempted to walk out of the restroom, but the blond placed a hand softly on the brunette's chest and lifted her chin to look up into hazel eyes. The two stared at each other, one determined to get an answer, the other determined to leave without a response.
"Will you tell me?" Quinn's voice was soft now and Rachel almost told her the truth. Almost.
"It's nothing."
The blond watched the singer's lips move as she formed her words. She was entranced by them. The light from the bathroom and her lip gloss made Rachel's lips shine with luster. Quinn found the pouted lips alluring and all she wanted to do was touch them. See if they were as soft as they looked. Her thumb was so close to the brunette's lower lip.
The warning bell rang which startled Quinn and made her leap back. Rachel just exited the restroom without a word. The blond fell back to the wall and blinked rapidly. Did I just think about touching Rachel's lips? She found herself licking her own lips just at the thought.
Quinn was in a confused haze the rest of the day. Was I really thinking about Rachel's lips? When Rachel turned around and their eyes met, Quinn found her hazel eyes slowly dropping down to the brunette's glossy lips. It's not like I want to kiss her or anything, she assured herself during English as the teacher read some Shakespeare aloud.
"Well, Quinn since you seen so eager to share your thoughts, why don't you be Romeo and read this part?"
The blond looked up to the teacher, lost. What exactly had she said aloud?
"What?"
"Read Romeo's part. You obvious stated your reluctance to kiss someone."
"No I didn't!" She squeaked.
"Then what were you mumbling about, hm?"
"Nothing."
"Fine. You still have to read Romeo's lines."
"Uh," the cheerleader looked down, finding no lines from Romeo. "I -"
"You're two pages behind." Sam whispered to her.
Quinn quickly flipped the pages and looked up at her teacher.
"Go on."
"Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?" the blond mumbled.
"Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer."
"O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do.
They pray; grant thou, lest faith turn to despair."
"What is Shakespeare trying to say through those two lines?"
I mean sure Rachel's lips looked really soft, and maybe kissable, but it doesn't mean I wanted to kiss them.
"Ms. Fabray!"
Quinn glanced up.
"I asked you the question."
"Uh, he wants to pray with her." The blond grumbled.
"Really? Are you sure? That's what your three years of advanced english has taught you?"
The cheerleader's reread the lines over.
"If you don't kiss me, I'll become depressed." The blond stated then instantly blushed as she found Rachel's brown eyes looking at her.
The teacher seemed to smile at the blond's discomfort.
"Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake."
The blond glanced at the brunette's eyes still eyeing her.
"Then move not, while my prayer’s effect I take," The blond paused a while, looking up at the teacher since Romeo and Juliet were supposed to kiss. Not removing her eyes from the book, the teacher waved her hand for Quinn to continue.
"Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged."
"Then have my lips the sin that they have took."
Quinn's eyes quickly met Rachel's as she read, "Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged! Give me my sin again."
"Okay now, class what..."
Quinn blocked out her teacher's voice and turned away from the brunette's glare. She sighed deeply. I do not want to kiss Rachel Berry.
The blond was even distracted throughout Cheerio practice. Sue even yelled if Quinn was pregnant again through the bull horn. All the cheerleader wanted was for practice to end already. As she trudged her way to the showers she found herself being grabbed by the shoulders and slammed against lockers. She blinked up to her attacker to find a fuming Santana.
"What the hell?" The blond snarled.
"You," Santana spoke with a raised finger, "fix things. Now."
The cheerleader's face scrunched up with confusion.
"What are you talking about?"
"Rachel is sad." Brittany stepped up and answered.
"I know and -"
"And you better fix it." The latina ordered.
"Since when do you care about how Rachel is feeling?"
"I could care less about Stubbles -"
"Santana!" Brittany reprimanded.
The brunette took a deep breath, shutting her eyes as she inhaled. She opened them and looked at Quinn.
"Something's wrong with your woman."
The head cheerleader crossed her arms.
"Rachel is not my woman. And what do you mean?"
"Rachel is sad, Quinn and she's sick."
The blond turned to Brittany.
"She told you?"
"No. I noticed. I told Santana, but she didn't really care."
"When did you find this out?"
The taller blond shrugged.
"A month or two ago."
"What? I barely -"
"That doesn't matter. All that matters is that you better fix things with you and man hands."
The blond frowned.
"I still don't understand why you care."
Santana leaned in and said, "Sad Rachel makes a sad and angry Brittany which makes a very unsatisfied Santana, got it?"
Quinn nodded and Brittany smiled. The latina stepped away. The cheerleader attempted to turn and head for the showers but Santana pushed her shoulder back.
"I mean it fertile myrtle, go fix things now."
"She's at the front waiting for her dads," Brittany spoke with a smile.
Quinn nodded and began heading out of the locker room. The blond didn't really understand what she had done wrong. Either way, she made her way to the front of school, hoping the brunette had not left yet. As she turned the corner of the school, she saw Rachel standing with Finn. The blond immediately retreated, not wanting to create attention on her. She just watched. Quinn couldn't hear what the two were talking about, but their closeness angered her. She was sure her feelings were displayed on her face, but she didn't care. She just wanted Finn to leave. He did eventually, but not before stealing a kiss from Rachel's cheek. The blond scoffed and her hardened eyes blinked rapidly as she turned away from that sight. She shouldn't have done this. She was about to leave but Santana's words filled her mind, I mean it fertile myrtle, go fix things now. The cheerleader groaned and when Finn ploded away, she walked over to the brunette's position.
"Rachel," the blond spoke softly.
The brunette turned to the voice. Her face remained unreadable.
"Hey, Quinn."
"C - Can we talk?"
"About wha'?"
"Look, I'm sorry."
"Wha' are you apologizin' fo'?"
Quinn bit her lower lip and scuffed her foot against the pavement.
"I - I don't know, but you're mad at me, aren't you?"
The brunette rolled her eyes and the blond knew she had said something wrong.
"Whate'er, 'uinn."
"Come on, Rach. Please tell me what I did."
"Nothin'. Jus' leave."
Quinn's eyebrows furrowed and she crossed her arms.
"If anything, you should be apologizing to me!"
"Me? Apo'gize?"
"Yeah!"
Rachel scoffed and shook her head.
"For wha'?"
"Sunshine told me what you said."
The brunette flipped her hair behind her shoulder and turned away.
"I don' know wha' you're talkin' about. I tol' her lots o' things."
"Oh yeah," Quinn questioned with increasing anger. "Look at me, Berry."
Reluctantly, dark chocolate eyes peered up at the blond.
"Tell me," her voice instantly softened as well as her eyes, "was I so awful to you that you actually thought I would mistreat Sunshine?"
Rachel studied the blond's face and saw a look of genuine hurt. She turned her eyes down, ashamed of the feelings she stirred in the cheerleader.
"No, that's - that's not wha' I mean'."
"What did you mean by it then?"
Glistening chestnut eyes found hurt hazel ones.
"I was afrai'."
"Of what? Of me?"
"No, of course not. I jus' - I though' you'd be one o' the ones in Glee t' let her join and replace me."
Quinn now realized Rachel was afraid of being replaced, of being cast aside. If she felt disposable then, the cheerleader could only imagine how vulnerable she felt at this moment. She found her mouth curling up into a smirk.
"You're crazy, Berry," Quinn leaned close to the brunette's face. "You could never be replaced. You're amazing."
"You're jus' sayin' that 'cause you don' wan' me t' be mad at you." Rachel couldn't stop the smile tugging at her lips.
"No. I mean it."
"But you still like Sunshine's voice be'er 'an mine, righ'?"
"No. Quit being insecure."
The brunette pouted and Quinn's eyes right darted to the lips. She momentarily shut her eyes to try to stop herself from staring, from those thoughts. Rachel noticed Quinn's slight unease.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes," The blond replied quickly.
"Do you promise then?" The brunette asked gently.
"Promise what?"
The cheerleader moved forward until their bodies were brushing and their faces were closer than before, now inches apart. She saw Rachel for all she was, beautiful. The brunette had remained silent, afraid to speak what she really wanted Quinn to promise. She chewed onto the inside of her lip and glanced down, unsure.
"You won' replace me wi' Sunshine."
The blond let out a huff of air in amusement.
"Jesus, Berry," Quinn spoke and, mirroring her action in the girl's restroom, lifted Rachel's chin so her eyes can look at the cheerleader. "What ever made you think Sunshine had a chance in taking your place?"
"I saw you two, practicin'. You looked happy and you ne'er replied to my texts or answered my calls. I figured you were wi' 'er. Havin' fun. Being happy.
"You," Quinn breathed, leaning closer. Make me happy, "are one crazy girl."
Rachel snorted and turned her eyes away, not seeing the blond's hazel ones flicker to the lips in front of them.
"I promise," she swore breathlessly, her eyes returning to Rachel's. "You will never be replaced." In my heart.
Rachel smiled. "You sounded very romantic today in English, by the way."
The two girls chuckled simultaneously.
The brunette took in the sight of the blond's pale face, eyes soft and true, lips upturned to a small smile. She found herself grinning as well. Quinn always made her feel this way. As if she was close to the edge, on the brink of falling, but Quinn, Quinn always managed to keep her still even though she still felt like at anytime, through the blond's wishes, she could fall.
Neither girl knew how long they stood like that: clothes touching, desperately wanting to be closer, lips close, desperately wanting to be against the other. Neither girl also knew that Jacob Ben Israel, who was not so far away, had been hiding, watching, the whole time. He lifted up his camera and flash by flash began playing in his mind what his next blog would be about.
Author: Me
Length: ~3000
Rating: R
Spoilers: Kinda AU, all episodes just to be safe
Summary: Something has been off about Rachel. For a long time. It usually was just forgotten. But, now, it's gotten worse and from what she learns, it's only going to progressively worsen. Is she strong enough to keep fighting?
Warning: This is gonna be pretty angsty. So..if you don't like that, TURN AWAY! But there will be nice parts so...just read it =D
Disclaimer: I own nothing
A/N: I picture Quinn's sister to look like Kristen Bell. I think they look a bit alike.
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part6
"It was a phase."
The two sisters stared at each other, sitting down on Riley's old bed. Quinn didn't believe a word her sister had said. Then again, she never did.
"I don't believe you."
Riley continued to stare abjectly at her sister.
"Well, it's the truth."
"Do you still love her?"
Riley looked away. Her lower lip began to tremble and suddenly tears were erupting and flowing down her cheeks.
"Can we please not talk about this anymore?"
Looking into her sister's vulnerable eyes, Quinn knew the answer.
"Are you a lesbian," she asked softly.
"No," her sister cried out. "I just - Alex is the only girl I've ever had feelings for."
Quinn was utterly confused. Was her sister a lesbian? Was she telling the truth? The younger blond didn't know what to believe. She stuck to what she knew.
"But the Bible says -"
"No. No. No. I'm all for the Bible. I know what it says. I would not be considered a lesbian okay? Not in God's eyes. Lesbians are whores. Disgusting filthy whores. I'm not."
Quinn frantically shook her head, unable to understand her sister's reasoning.
"No! The Bible -"
"Quinn! Don't you think I've had this discussion with myself before? I'm not a lesbian."
"Well, Alex is a lesbian. She looks just like how Dad -" Shit.
"You saw Alex?" Her sister quickly turned to look at her.
"Yeah," Quinn responded weakly.
"What? Where? When?"
"Uh. A restaurant. Not too long ago."
"But how did you two meet?"
"She, uh, she recognized my friend. She introduced me to Alex."
"Did she tell you we dated?"
"No. I just happened to remember her name and remember it in conversations I've had with you."
"Did you get her number?" Riley asked full of hope.
"No, but I can ask my friend -"
"Are they dating?" The older blond asked bitterly.
"No! No."
"Oh." Riley breathed a sigh of relief.
Quinn's ring-tone caused the two of them to jump. The younger blond got up from her sister's bed and walked over to her room to retrieve her phone.
Quinn! Kurt gave me yr #. I found a song. We should rehearse pronto! are u free right now?
The blond sighed and shrugged to herself.
Yeah. Give me your address and I'll be there in a few.
"Quinn."
The younger blond twisted her neck to look at her doorway.
"What," She asked as she made her way to her closet and began to pull out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
"Don't tell mom and dad."
"Okay."
Riley barely noticed Quinn was pulling out clothes.
"What are you doing?"
"I gotta go rehearse with my duet partner for Glee."
"You're in Glee?"
"Yes. Now get out so I can change!" Quinn growled and pushed her sister out of the room as she closed the door.
"That's my Switchfoot shirt by the way!" She yelled through the door.
The cheerleader just rolled her eyes.
Sunshine ended up living outside of Lima and Quinn had trouble finding the filipina's house. Once the blond found it, however, she couldn't believe it. The house was huge. It was painted white and a gate enclosed everything. Luckily, it was open so all Quinn had to do was walk inside after she parked the car across the street. She was quickly greeted by a grinning Sunshine.
"Hi, Quinn."
"Hey." The blond muttered, still in amazement of what she saw.
"I promise to show you the inside of my house later, okay? But right now let's go practice. I'm excited!"
The cheerleader just let out a small chuckle as she took in the sights. Sunshine brought Quinn to her huge backyard with a large pool smack dab in the middle.
"Come, sit." Sunshine pulled Quinn onto a lawn chair. She pulled out sheet music. "You like Moulin Rouge?"
The blond nodded her head slowly as she accepted the papers. Her eyes found the title Elephant Love Medley.
"I'm not singing this," she turned to Sunshine. "Not with you."
The filipina frowned.
"But why?"
"Two girls singing a love duet? I'm not Brittany or Santana."
"Well, it doesn't have to be two girls." Sunshine muttered.
"I didn't realize you had the ability to grow a male appendage, Rainbow."
"We could role-play! I could be Christian -"
"Whoa whoa, why do you get to be Christian?"
Sunshine shrugged.
"You can't do his part."
"Yes I can," Quinn shouted and stood up. "Just watch me!"
She looked at the sheet music then threw it down at her side as she turned and pointed to Sunshine.
Love is a many splendored thing, love, lifts us up where we
belong, all you need is love.
Please, don't start that again.
Sunshine played along, shaking her head and getting into character.
All you need is love.
Quinn sang, leaning over to Sunshine.
A girl has got to eat.
All you need is love.
Quinn stepped closer.
Or she'll end up on the streets.
The filipina stood up and turned away from the cheerleader.
All you need is love.
Love is just a game.
The blond took a leap forward and was close behind Sunshine.
I was made for loving you baby, you were made for loving me.
The only way of loving me baby, is to pay a lovely fee.
Sunshine turned her head and looked at Quinn coquettishly.
Just one night, give me, just one night.
There's no way, cause you can't pay.
The small filipina fully turned and pushed Quinn away. The blond rebounded back.
In the name of love, one night in the name of love.
You crazy fool, I won't give in to you.
Sunshine shook her head and walked away from the cheerleader. Quinn briskly walked to grab her arm and pull the small brunette back.
Don't leave me this way, I can't survive, without your sweet
love, oh baby, don't leave me this way.
Sunshine turned away with her arms crossed.
You'd think that people would have had enough of silly
love songs.
Quinn placed one hand on the brunette's arm and another on her waist as she sang softly.
I look around me and I see, it isn't so, oh no.
Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs.
Sunshine's brown eyes looked up into Quinn's hazel ones. She found herself tilting her head up to reach a much taller blond's lips.
Well what's wrong with that, I'd like to know.
The singing was interrupted by a buzz coming from Quinn's pants. Sunshine giggled as the blond pulled out her phone.
Hey Quinn :) Do you want me to go over to your house?
It was Rachel. The cheerleader's face contoured with anger as she remembered Rachel's last text.
"What's wrong?" The brunette asked as she delicately placed a soft hand on Quinn's wrist.
No. I'm busy practicing my duet with Sunshine.
"Nothing," the cheerleader answered with a smile as she slipped her phone back in her pocket.
"All right. Do you want to continue?"
Quinn nodded.
-
Back at school the following Monday, Rachel knew something was wrong with Quinn. She was angry at her. She had not replied to any of the brunette's texts or calls during the whole weekend. She thought of going over to see if the blond was sick, but her fathers were against it. Not knowing what Quinn was doing made Rachel's mind flow crazy with ideas. Were Sunshine and Quinn friends now? Was the cheerleader going to replace Rachel? These scenarios were the exact reason why she wanted Sunshine to stay away from Quinn. The blond had always shown a weakness to beautiful voices and the filipina's voice was amazing. It certainly was better than the brunette's since she couldn't really sing anymore. Rachel sighed as she entered the library, hoping to find Artie.
"Hey, Rach." The boy said with a warm smile as she came into his view.
"Hi, Artie."
He noticed a change in Rachel's voice. It wasn't with the same pep as before.
"Is there something wrong?"
The brunette pulled up a chair and plopped down next to him.
"Everythin'. I tol' Quinn."
"Quinn? But she's your enemy!"
Artie's loud voice caused the librarian to shush him.
"I - I thought we were becomin' frien's, but now I thin' I did somethin' to make 'er mad and - and I'm afrai' I migh' lose her."
The bespectacled boy pushed up his glasses as he assessed the problem. His face wrinkled with thought.
"Rachel, do you, like, -"
"Artie, what do I do!" Rachel whispered a little too loud for the librarian.
"Find out what you did wrong. Then apologize I guess."
Rachel pouted. "But I don' know wha' I did wrong."
"Well, when did she start acting differently?"
"Friday 'fore school."
"Maybe she had a bad morning. Maybe you didn't do anything."
"I don' know. This mornin' she seemed like she didn' wan' to be 'round me."
"Rach, it's Quinn. Head Cheerleader? Maybe she's going back to her old ways."
"But she promised!" Rachel shouted.
Artie shut his book and turned to Rachel. He knew no amount of advice would make Rachel feel better.
"Hey, you know what always makes me feel better when I'm down?"
The brunette sniffled and shook her head.
"Wha'?"
"Riding my wheelchair at full speed. You want to try?"
Artie slid out from under the table and smiled at Rachel.
"But, where 'ill you be?"
The boy scratched the back of his neck.
"I'm not trying to be forward, Rach, but you can sit on me and we'll go ride down the hallway."
The brunette lifted an eyebrow at him.
"Wha' if someone catches us?"
"That's the whole thrill! Now let's get out of here before we lose our library privileges."
Rachel giggled all the way down the hallway as she clung onto Artie's neck and the wind blew back her long brown curls of hair. Artie chuckled as well. He never got too close to Rachel because of her obnoxious personality, but now he realized she wasn't all she seemed to be. He watched as her mouth ate up her face in a grin and her eyes closed shut, but not from fright. This was a whole new Rachel. He didn't want to say he hated the old Rachel, but this one was different. The disease matured her and ironically, made her a better person in and out. He felt this Rachel should be shared with everyone. Not just himself and possibly Quinn. He stopped and Rachel opened her eyes.
"Why'd you stop?" She breathed.
"You should tell Glee." Artie spoke seriously.
"No. They won' care."
"They think you ditched the team. I know the truth and I hate it when they call you disloyal. They need to know."
Rachel stood up.
"They don' need to know anythin'."
"Don't you think you owe it to them," Artie asked softly, while looking up at the brunette.
"I owe 'em nothin'. They ne'er cared!"
"We're a family."
"No," Rachel shook her head defiantly. "We're not," She walked away. "Not anymore."
Artie didn't know whether to follow Rachel or not, but he figured that she needed some alone time. The brunette walked down the hallway as fast as she could, but then her ears heard sound coming from the where Glee practices. She stopped and walked back to be able to peer through the door. What she saw made tears spring to her eyes.
"Okay Quinn, let's run through that chair part."
The blond scratched her head. "Can we just start from silly love songs?"
Sunshine sighed. "Okay."
She placed a chair in front of the pretend audience and turned her back to Quinn.
Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs.
Quinn placed her hands in their position while Sunshine turned to look up at her.
Well what's wrong with that, I'd like to know. 'Cause here I go
again!
Quinn ran up to the chair and placed one foot on the seat, the other on it's back. She extended her arms out with her palms open. Sunshine pretended to make an attempt to get the blond down.
Love lifts us up where we belong, where eagles fly, on
a mountain high.
Sunshine grabs onto the cheerleader's hand and she drops down by pushing the back of the chair to land on the floor and as soon as she steps off of the chair, the brunette crosses her arms.
Love makes us act like we are fools, throw our lives away
for one happy day.
Sunshine began climbing the steps to the audience. Quinn just watched and sang with her arms open.
We could be heroes, just for one day.
You, you will be mean.
Quinn slowly followed her up, chuckling while singing.
No I won't!
The brunette made it past behind the perceived crowd and was now on the other side.
And I, I - I'll drink all the time.
She continued until she had her back to the audience.
We should be lovers.
The brunette slightly turned her head to Quinn.
We can't do that.
Quinn leaped forward in front of the audience and Sunshine fully faced her.
We should be lovers, and that's a fact.
Though nothing, will keep us together.
The cheerleader slowly reached Sunshine.
We could steal time
Just for one day. We could be heroes, for ever and ever.
We could be heroes, for ever and ever. We could be heroes.
Quinn and Sunshine held hands and spun slowly around, their faces inches apart.
Just because I will always love you.
I
Can't help loving you
How wonderful life is
Now you're in the world.
Sunshine's face was tilted up toward Quinn. The brunette had her eyes shut and Quinn's hazel eyes frantically looked around her face, unsure of what to do next.
"Rachel," The brunette turned around to see Artie behind her. "What's wrong?"
She shook her head not being able to form words and continued walking. Artie wasn't tall enough to see through the doors, but he heard Sunshine and Quinn talking. He turned and followed Rachel.
"Are you mad?"
She shook her head again.
"Well, then tell me what's wrong. You're crying. Are they that good together?"
Rachel let out a sob and ducked into the girl's restroom. Artie sighed and remained outside. The brunette slid down to the floor and buried her face in her palms as tears seeped through the crevices of her hands. Quinn will just replace me, Rachel thought, just like everyone else in Glee did. She let out a sob and trembled. Maybe Finn was right.
The bell rung and Rachel quickly stood up and went to the sink to wash her face. She blew her nose, but that didn't stop other tears from trickling down her cheeks. She heard the door swing open and tried to wipe them with her tissue. She turned to the door and saw Quinn standing at the doorway. The brunette couldn't stop her lower lip from trembling or the tears from falling.
The cheerleader's eyes studied the girl in front of her.
"Why are you crying?" Quinn asked in a cold tone.
Rachel shook her head and attempted to walk out of the restroom, but the blond placed a hand softly on the brunette's chest and lifted her chin to look up into hazel eyes. The two stared at each other, one determined to get an answer, the other determined to leave without a response.
"Will you tell me?" Quinn's voice was soft now and Rachel almost told her the truth. Almost.
"It's nothing."
The blond watched the singer's lips move as she formed her words. She was entranced by them. The light from the bathroom and her lip gloss made Rachel's lips shine with luster. Quinn found the pouted lips alluring and all she wanted to do was touch them. See if they were as soft as they looked. Her thumb was so close to the brunette's lower lip.
The warning bell rang which startled Quinn and made her leap back. Rachel just exited the restroom without a word. The blond fell back to the wall and blinked rapidly. Did I just think about touching Rachel's lips? She found herself licking her own lips just at the thought.
Quinn was in a confused haze the rest of the day. Was I really thinking about Rachel's lips? When Rachel turned around and their eyes met, Quinn found her hazel eyes slowly dropping down to the brunette's glossy lips. It's not like I want to kiss her or anything, she assured herself during English as the teacher read some Shakespeare aloud.
"Well, Quinn since you seen so eager to share your thoughts, why don't you be Romeo and read this part?"
The blond looked up to the teacher, lost. What exactly had she said aloud?
"What?"
"Read Romeo's part. You obvious stated your reluctance to kiss someone."
"No I didn't!" She squeaked.
"Then what were you mumbling about, hm?"
"Nothing."
"Fine. You still have to read Romeo's lines."
"Uh," the cheerleader looked down, finding no lines from Romeo. "I -"
"You're two pages behind." Sam whispered to her.
Quinn quickly flipped the pages and looked up at her teacher.
"Go on."
"Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?" the blond mumbled.
"Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer."
"O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do.
They pray; grant thou, lest faith turn to despair."
"What is Shakespeare trying to say through those two lines?"
I mean sure Rachel's lips looked really soft, and maybe kissable, but it doesn't mean I wanted to kiss them.
"Ms. Fabray!"
Quinn glanced up.
"I asked you the question."
"Uh, he wants to pray with her." The blond grumbled.
"Really? Are you sure? That's what your three years of advanced english has taught you?"
The cheerleader's reread the lines over.
"If you don't kiss me, I'll become depressed." The blond stated then instantly blushed as she found Rachel's brown eyes looking at her.
The teacher seemed to smile at the blond's discomfort.
"Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake."
The blond glanced at the brunette's eyes still eyeing her.
"Then move not, while my prayer’s effect I take," The blond paused a while, looking up at the teacher since Romeo and Juliet were supposed to kiss. Not removing her eyes from the book, the teacher waved her hand for Quinn to continue.
"Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged."
"Then have my lips the sin that they have took."
Quinn's eyes quickly met Rachel's as she read, "Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged! Give me my sin again."
"Okay now, class what..."
Quinn blocked out her teacher's voice and turned away from the brunette's glare. She sighed deeply. I do not want to kiss Rachel Berry.
The blond was even distracted throughout Cheerio practice. Sue even yelled if Quinn was pregnant again through the bull horn. All the cheerleader wanted was for practice to end already. As she trudged her way to the showers she found herself being grabbed by the shoulders and slammed against lockers. She blinked up to her attacker to find a fuming Santana.
"What the hell?" The blond snarled.
"You," Santana spoke with a raised finger, "fix things. Now."
The cheerleader's face scrunched up with confusion.
"What are you talking about?"
"Rachel is sad." Brittany stepped up and answered.
"I know and -"
"And you better fix it." The latina ordered.
"Since when do you care about how Rachel is feeling?"
"I could care less about Stubbles -"
"Santana!" Brittany reprimanded.
The brunette took a deep breath, shutting her eyes as she inhaled. She opened them and looked at Quinn.
"Something's wrong with your woman."
The head cheerleader crossed her arms.
"Rachel is not my woman. And what do you mean?"
"Rachel is sad, Quinn and she's sick."
The blond turned to Brittany.
"She told you?"
"No. I noticed. I told Santana, but she didn't really care."
"When did you find this out?"
The taller blond shrugged.
"A month or two ago."
"What? I barely -"
"That doesn't matter. All that matters is that you better fix things with you and man hands."
The blond frowned.
"I still don't understand why you care."
Santana leaned in and said, "Sad Rachel makes a sad and angry Brittany which makes a very unsatisfied Santana, got it?"
Quinn nodded and Brittany smiled. The latina stepped away. The cheerleader attempted to turn and head for the showers but Santana pushed her shoulder back.
"I mean it fertile myrtle, go fix things now."
"She's at the front waiting for her dads," Brittany spoke with a smile.
Quinn nodded and began heading out of the locker room. The blond didn't really understand what she had done wrong. Either way, she made her way to the front of school, hoping the brunette had not left yet. As she turned the corner of the school, she saw Rachel standing with Finn. The blond immediately retreated, not wanting to create attention on her. She just watched. Quinn couldn't hear what the two were talking about, but their closeness angered her. She was sure her feelings were displayed on her face, but she didn't care. She just wanted Finn to leave. He did eventually, but not before stealing a kiss from Rachel's cheek. The blond scoffed and her hardened eyes blinked rapidly as she turned away from that sight. She shouldn't have done this. She was about to leave but Santana's words filled her mind, I mean it fertile myrtle, go fix things now. The cheerleader groaned and when Finn ploded away, she walked over to the brunette's position.
"Rachel," the blond spoke softly.
The brunette turned to the voice. Her face remained unreadable.
"Hey, Quinn."
"C - Can we talk?"
"About wha'?"
"Look, I'm sorry."
"Wha' are you apologizin' fo'?"
Quinn bit her lower lip and scuffed her foot against the pavement.
"I - I don't know, but you're mad at me, aren't you?"
The brunette rolled her eyes and the blond knew she had said something wrong.
"Whate'er, 'uinn."
"Come on, Rach. Please tell me what I did."
"Nothin'. Jus' leave."
Quinn's eyebrows furrowed and she crossed her arms.
"If anything, you should be apologizing to me!"
"Me? Apo'gize?"
"Yeah!"
Rachel scoffed and shook her head.
"For wha'?"
"Sunshine told me what you said."
The brunette flipped her hair behind her shoulder and turned away.
"I don' know wha' you're talkin' about. I tol' her lots o' things."
"Oh yeah," Quinn questioned with increasing anger. "Look at me, Berry."
Reluctantly, dark chocolate eyes peered up at the blond.
"Tell me," her voice instantly softened as well as her eyes, "was I so awful to you that you actually thought I would mistreat Sunshine?"
Rachel studied the blond's face and saw a look of genuine hurt. She turned her eyes down, ashamed of the feelings she stirred in the cheerleader.
"No, that's - that's not wha' I mean'."
"What did you mean by it then?"
Glistening chestnut eyes found hurt hazel ones.
"I was afrai'."
"Of what? Of me?"
"No, of course not. I jus' - I though' you'd be one o' the ones in Glee t' let her join and replace me."
Quinn now realized Rachel was afraid of being replaced, of being cast aside. If she felt disposable then, the cheerleader could only imagine how vulnerable she felt at this moment. She found her mouth curling up into a smirk.
"You're crazy, Berry," Quinn leaned close to the brunette's face. "You could never be replaced. You're amazing."
"You're jus' sayin' that 'cause you don' wan' me t' be mad at you." Rachel couldn't stop the smile tugging at her lips.
"No. I mean it."
"But you still like Sunshine's voice be'er 'an mine, righ'?"
"No. Quit being insecure."
The brunette pouted and Quinn's eyes right darted to the lips. She momentarily shut her eyes to try to stop herself from staring, from those thoughts. Rachel noticed Quinn's slight unease.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes," The blond replied quickly.
"Do you promise then?" The brunette asked gently.
"Promise what?"
The cheerleader moved forward until their bodies were brushing and their faces were closer than before, now inches apart. She saw Rachel for all she was, beautiful. The brunette had remained silent, afraid to speak what she really wanted Quinn to promise. She chewed onto the inside of her lip and glanced down, unsure.
"You won' replace me wi' Sunshine."
The blond let out a huff of air in amusement.
"Jesus, Berry," Quinn spoke and, mirroring her action in the girl's restroom, lifted Rachel's chin so her eyes can look at the cheerleader. "What ever made you think Sunshine had a chance in taking your place?"
"I saw you two, practicin'. You looked happy and you ne'er replied to my texts or answered my calls. I figured you were wi' 'er. Havin' fun. Being happy.
"You," Quinn breathed, leaning closer. Make me happy, "are one crazy girl."
Rachel snorted and turned her eyes away, not seeing the blond's hazel ones flicker to the lips in front of them.
"I promise," she swore breathlessly, her eyes returning to Rachel's. "You will never be replaced." In my heart.
Rachel smiled. "You sounded very romantic today in English, by the way."
The two girls chuckled simultaneously.
The brunette took in the sight of the blond's pale face, eyes soft and true, lips upturned to a small smile. She found herself grinning as well. Quinn always made her feel this way. As if she was close to the edge, on the brink of falling, but Quinn, Quinn always managed to keep her still even though she still felt like at anytime, through the blond's wishes, she could fall.
Neither girl knew how long they stood like that: clothes touching, desperately wanting to be closer, lips close, desperately wanting to be against the other. Neither girl also knew that Jacob Ben Israel, who was not so far away, had been hiding, watching, the whole time. He lifted up his camera and flash by flash began playing in his mind what his next blog would be about.