Let Me Sing To You Tonight: Wide Awake - Part A
Title: Let Me Sing to You Tonight
Pairing: Rachel Berry&&Quinn Fabray
Rating: T
Part: 6/10
Previous parts: | 1 | 2| 3| 4| 5|
Disclaimer: This is a work of my own mind, and reflects nothing of the included characters I've borrowed from the lucky ass who owns them. In other words, this is for fun, don't sue me!
Author's Note: Here’s the next part! Please leave your thoughts. :)
Letting out a long low whine, a sleepy blonde poked her head out from underneath the covers. Quinn reached for the other girl, her eyes half lidded and a small pout on her lips. Finding an empty side, she forced an eye open and confirmed her suspicions. Quinn knew that her place was far from extravagant and wasn't nearly as immaculate as Rachel's had been but she hadn't expected the actress to have bolted early in the morning.
Grumbling unhappily under her breath, Quinn pulled the covers over her head once again, preparing to doze off when she heard the soft clinking of plates and a mouthwatering aroma wafting in from her kitchen. Gingerly peeling back the covers, she padded across her small bedroom, avoiding all areas that creaked and groaned under her weight. Reaching the end of the short hall, Quinn peeked out from behind the corner.
In front of the stove, Quinn found Rachel Berry, dressed an apron that Brittany had handmade for the blonde, flipping pancakes and thumbing through a small leather bound book. Quinn's body tensed as she watched Rachel stop at one of the pages, leaning over and reading it intently. The blonde waited for her response, biting her lip as the actress raised her eyebrows and narrowed her gaze.
Quinn cleared her throat, stepping into the view, a frown playing on her features. "What are you doing with that, Rachel?"
The brunette, who had turned her attention back towards plating the pancakes, was startled by the sudden intrusion of her thoughts. Holding a hand over her heart, she smiled widely at her girlfriend. "Hey, you. I didn't even know you were awake but you've got impeccable timing. Coffee should be ready in a minute and the pancakes just finished."
Quinn's eyes darted between the open book on the counter and Rachel, anxiety clear on her face.
The actress followed Quinn's gaze, eyebrows shooting up when she realized she had been doing something that she shouldn't have been. "That book was private, wasn't it?"
Quinn moved closer to the counter and slid the book towards herself. "It's just something I write in every now and then. No one was ever supposed to look at this."
Rachel dropped her gaze but leaned over and put a hand over the blonde's. "I apologize, then. I understand that it was something I shouldn't have taken the liberty to indulge in but I am glad I did. Quinn, you are amazing! These songs are all originals, I assume. You've got this way with words and I knew you had some talent but this, this is unbelievable."
The singer's face flushed as she pushed a tendril of hair behind her ear and smiled bashfully. "Do you really think so?"
"I do. I'd also really like you to sing to me. Specifically one of these songs."
"I-I don't think they're quite ready, yet." Quinn stuttered, wringing her hands.
Rachel's gaze searched Quinn's features before nodding succinctly and changing the topic seamlessly. "Sit down. The food's getting cold and I have someone to convert to veganism."
Body relaxing immediately, Quinn took her seat at a worn down table, wincing when she noticed the broken chair in the corner. She had purchased the three piece set from an old couple and though it wasn't as sturdy as it had once been, it had always been sufficient enough for the blonde. "Oh, Rach. I'm sorry. That chair just broke one day and I don't have too many people staying over for breakfast and-"
The blonde stopped immediately at the glare her girlfriend sent her way, backtracking and rectifying her slip up. "I mean, friends who come over for meals and I just never really got to fixing it."
Rachel rolled her eyes, putting a plate of warm pancakes down in front of the girl along with some syrup and a mug of coffee. Moving back to the counter to get her own meal, Rachel set her food down next to Quinn's and rested her hands on the blonde's knees and pushed down, humming in approval. "Move your hands, Quinn. I'm going to sit in your lap."
Grinning at the blonde's compliance, Rachel gingerly sat down, draping an arm over her shoulders. "See? This is more than comfy enough."
Quinn shook her head but encircled an arm around the brunette's waist, ensuring that she was safely secured in place.
"Now, these pancakes are vegan so you can rest assured that no animals were killed during the creation of this breakfast."
The blonde froze, her fork halfway to her mouth, and looked over at the shorter girl who was watching intently with excitement. Through her own vegan experience, Quinn recalled a batch of pancakes that had left the blonde clinging to a toilet bowl for dear life. Swallowing hard, she brought the fork closer to her mouth, chewing slowly and deliberately.
Surprisingly, the pancakes didn't taste any different than the normal ones she made herself whenever her budget or her schedule allowed. Rachel, smiling smugly to herself, bit into her own pancakes and reached for the newspaper in the middle of the table.
"So, what're you going to do about auditions, Rach? Are there any more coming up that you can get ready for?" Quinn asked, washing down a mouthful of pancakes with the coffee set out for herself. "Wow, this is great. How did you know how I like my coffee?"
"You're surprisingly simple, Quinn. Two sugars, two creams. It's how half the world takes their coffee." The brunette teased, sipping from her own mug. "And there is actually another audition. Same director, different role. I don't know if I'll try out this time, though. I feel that I need a few mental health days, maybe a week or two. Even a month could do no damage."
Quinn gave the girl a chastising look, shaking her head. "You should try again, Rachel, especially if it's the same director. He'll remember you from this past audition and who knows? He may just find that this one fits you better."
Rachel mulled it over a bite of pancake, nodding her head. "I'll think about it, Quinn. I just don't know if I'm prepared enough to go in and be rejected again. Not this soon."
"Rachel, you've got a powerhouse voice and amazing talent. He'll remember you from last time and just this time, drive it a little harder. Maybe go see him before he makes his decision. You're always so forward and unrelenting about every little thing, so why not give it all you got?"At the actress's silence, she goaded her a bit more. "Come on, Rach. If you don't get the next gig, I'll let you take as many mental health days as you want, no questions asked."
The actress shrugged, stretching and looking down on herself. "You need to get another apron, Quinn."
The blonde shook her head at the deflection but found that she couldn't stifle a laugh when the brunette gestured towards the two brightly colored handprints over her breasts. "Brittany made it for me and I have a sneaking suspicion that Santana helped with that particular portion of the apron."
Rachel chuckled softly, standing up and ridding herself of the garment before moving the dirty dishes from the table to the sink. "I'm going to need to take a shower before I leave. I'd like to refrain from smelling like sex when I go in to pick up the script for the audition. I don't plan on doing much more than just winging it but I don't want to appear as a fool up on stage."
Quinn broke out into a proud smile, pulling the brunette back into her lap for a kiss. The sudden addition of weight resulted in one of the legs of the chair to give out. Hazel eyes went wide at the sound of the splitting wood, both girls crying out when the seat collapsed on the floor.
There was a moment of disbelief, two tangled bodies sitting amongst the wreckage of the old chair, before Rachel began to giggle almost uncontrollably. Quinn joined in, her body shaking under the weight of the brunette.
"Ow! Ow! Oh my God, there's a splinter in my ass!" Quinn suddenly cried out, pushing the guffawing brunette off her lap and shooting to her feet. "Fuck, it's in deep, I can feel it."
Rachel, eyes welled up with tears from laughing so hard, crawled over to Quinn, tugging sharply on her pajama bottoms. Ignoring the blonde's cry of pain, she scrutinized the area, her fingers acting as pincers as she clicked her tongue in victory. She pulled the small piece of wood out of her girlfriend's ass, her giggles threatening to return when the blonde yelped in surprise and squirmed away from her.
The actress stood straight, laughing as Quinn rubbed the tender area with a pout on her face. "While you continue to tend to yourself, I'm going to take a shower."
"Wait, I need to take a shower too. I have work in today and you take forever in the shower, Rach. Let me go first." Quinn protested, tugging up her pajamas and moving towards the bathroom.
Eyes narrowing, Rachel scrutinized her girlfriend. "When do you have work?"
"One hour." Quinn shot back.
"Hmm."
"Come on, Rach!" The blonde whined, tapping her foot impatiently.
Rachel leaned over, taking Quinn's hand and leading her towards the shower.
Confused, the blonde let herself be led willingly. "What are you doing, babe? I really don't have time for this."
The actress pushed her girlfriend's back against the bathroom door, scrutinizing gaze increasing ten-fold. "When do you actually have work, Quinn?"
Sighing, the blonde glared at Rachel. "Three hours from now."
"Hmm."
"Oh, come on! What is that supposed to mean?" Quinn exclaimed.
Rachel rolled her eyes, letting her fingers hook in the waistband of the singer's bottoms, and refused to answer.
"Rachel. What. Are. You. Doing?" The blonde spoke slowly, perplexed by her girlfriend's actions and trying to get her attention.
"I'm just adhering to a famous saying, Quinn." Rachel replied sweetly.
"And exactly what famous saying are you referring to, Berry?"
The brunette pulled on the pajama pants she had been fingering, expertly removing both the bottoms and the panties in one fell swoop.
Leaning over to whisper in Quinn's ear, Rachel let a hand trail down towards the apex of the blonde's thighs.
"When in doubt, shower together."
Quinn slumped into a nearby chair in the backroom, pulling out her phone and thumbing through the messages she had missed. It had been a busy afternoon and she was already exhausted. She smiled at a recent message from Rachel, informing her that she would soon be on her way to the café.
She looked up as Kirsten hurried inside with a tray full of used glassware, seething.
"I fucking hate finals week." Kirsten spat, dumping the tray into a soapy sink. "Stupid fucking kids come in here and order a single coffee and take up all the space and keep asking me to lower the music." Stomping over to the controls for the speakers, Kirsten cranked it up, ignoring the loud protests from the customers and muttering to herself. "Take that, you little fuckers."
Jimmy came out from the front, giving the brunette a chastising look as he lowered the speakers back down. "Behave, Kirstie. I remember a time when you used to hoard up in this shop studying all that nonsense about plant biology."
Groaning, the barista shot back. "I was hot, though. Eye candy makes up for taking up couch space." Turning towards Quinn, Kirsten jerked her head. "Break or lunch, Q?"
"Break." The blonde replied, standing up. "Rach's here. I'll be back in ten minutes, Jimbo."
Quinn skipped out of the backroom, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend. "Hello, beautiful."
Rachel laughed softly, kissing Quinn on her cheek and making her way towards a small vacant table in the corner. The brunette gave her girlfriend a small smile, leaning over and tugging out her script. "How's work been?"
The blonde shrugged, "It's been busy. I guess there's a finals week or something. How did the talk with the director go?"
"He told me exactly what he wanted from me. I'm left to decide whether or not I'll be able to fulfill his expectations from me."
Quinn covered Rachel's hand with her own, "You'll get the part, Rach. Let me help you run the lines."
"No, thank you. When is your lunch?"
"Not for another few hours. I can meet you someplace to eat. I'm sure you won't want to sit here for too long."
"Quinn!" Jimmy called out, gesturing for the blonde to get back to work.
Waving her boss off, Quinn smiled at her girlfriend. "Alright, that won't work. Come in the back. You can practice back there. It'll be a little quieter and maybe I can steal a kiss or two every now and again."
Rachel smiled politely but continued to decline the offer, yet again.
"Kirsten's going on lunch, Rach. As much as she complains about running lines with you, I think she secretly loves it."
"Quinn! Break's been over for five minutes!" Jimmy warned.
Standing up, Quinn leaned over and kissed her softly. "Alright, baby. If you need anything, let me know."
Rachel dropped her gaze to the script and began to flip through the pages, her fingers tracing over the print.
She stayed like that for the next two hours. After fifteen minutes, she dropped the pretense of even flipping the pages, just gazing at script. Rachel refused to even lift her head up, even when one of the students nearly knocked her out of her chair with his oversized backpack. Quinn had been halfway there to teach the young man some manners, but Kirsten took a hold of her and she was left just to watch as the brunette resumed staring at the script, mustering up enough strength to flip the page.
Quinn continued to work behind the register, watching the brunette from the corner of her eyes. She turned to share a look with Jimmy who was watching Rachel with concern and apprehension, as well.
Gesturing her closer, Jimmy whispered. "Quinn, she's not gearing up to blow up again, is she?"
Kirsten leaned into the small huddle, putting her two cents in as well. "She's too quiet. She's just waiting for the next old guy to waltz in here."
Quinn shooed the two away, shooting another worried glance towards Rachel. "I'm going to take my lunch, now."
The blonde hurried to make the actress's unique coffee order and headed her way. Gently setting down the mug, Quinn took a seat next to the day dreaming brunette.
"How're the new lines going?
The brunette was hardly fazed, her eyes moving to meet Quinn's searching gaze. "They're amazing, as always. Another hit, sure to catch the eye of Broadway."
The worried barista frowned at the monotonic tone of her answer, prodding the other girl a bit farther. "Good, good. So…?"
"Shouldn't you be working, Q? It's a little busy in here." Rachel asked, steering the conversation in another direction.
Quinn looked up and around the café, which had settled down significantly with only a few stragglers left here and there. "Uh- sure. I'll go in a half an hour. I'm on lunch right now." Setting a hand on Rachel's forearm, Quinn continued. "Would you like to go out for lunch?"
"I think I'm quite alright." Rachel answered, "I really should be practicing these lines."
Frowning, Quinn sat back in her seats, her arms crossed over her chest. "Look, I know that you said you were going to take it easier on the whole practicing thing, but seriously, Rach. Do you even care about this anymore?"
Rachel's eyes filled with fury, her lips becoming a thin line. "Quinn, I suggest that you get up and leave."
"No." The blonde replied, a flash of defiance and anger in her eyes.
"Fine, I'll go!" Rachel snapped under her breath, closing the script and gathering her things.
"Where are you going, Rach?" Quinn whispered heatedly, grabbing a hold of the brunette's wrist. She noticed Jimmy out of the corner of her eye watching the situation very warily.
"I'm going to talk to the director. I'll show you just how much I care about this damn role." Rachel harshly sighed, tugging her wrist out of the blonde's grip and rushing out of the café.
Quinn finished wiping the counter down, moving to get a spot in the corner that she had missed. Stepping back, she surveyed her work and when satisfied, she slung the towel over her shoulder and waved as the last customers headed out the door. Surveying the café, the blonde sighed as she took in the destruction that had befallen the small coffee shop. It would take at least two hours to clean up all the littered pieces of paper and the spilt coffee drinks and the chaotic arrangement of tables and chairs. Hearing the clinking of dishes in the back, Quinn cringed again, remembering the large number of mugs and plates just waiting to be cleaned.
She glanced down at her phone and her frown became more pronounced when she saw that she had no messages from the brunette had stormed out of the café hours earlier. Hesitating just a moment, Quinn hit a button and held the phone to her ear as she listened to the monotonous rings. After what seemed like forever, she was forwarded to voicemail and the blonde's heart sank.
"Go and get your little singing leprechaun, Q." A voice sounded off from the backroom.
Jumping slightly, startled out of her thoughts, Quinn immediately moved to refuse Kirsten's offer.
"Seriously, Quinn. I'm going to change my mind in about three seconds because this place is trashed and it's going to take me forever to clean this place up. Besides you're not going to do anything unless you make sure she's okay and the sooner you two make nice, the sooner she can get over here and help clean this place up." Kirsten finished off, handing the other girl her bag and keys. "Don't take more than an hour, though. I'm not letting you completely off the hook."
The blonde smiled widely and hurried out of the door, making her way through the near empty parking lot towards her car. She started her car and while waiting for the engine to warm up, Quinn tried Rachel's phone again.
She drove to the brunette's house first, believing the girl to be ignoring her and simply hiding out underneath her covers. A quick drive by negated this theory and with no other leads, Quinn headed towards the theater that she had met Rachel at before.
She immediately spotted the brunette's unique vehicle as she pulled into the parking lot and pulling alongside the car, Quinn let her body slump in relief. She hadn't wanted to admit it but she had always had a habit of assuming the worst and there had been many instances throughout the day where she had imagined a bruised and broken Rachel Berry and a wrecked car alone in a ditch.
Quinn pulled her jacket around her a little tighter as she moved towards the entrance, glad to see another car parked in the lot. She was comforted by the idea that her girlfriend wasn't hanging out in a deserted theater by herself.
She had felt horrible for pushing the girl away and had watched the clock pass by hour after hour with no return of the exuberant brunette. Running through different apologies in her head, Quinn sighed, both in frustration and exhaustion. The whole day had just gone to hell after Rachel had stormed out and the blonde wanted nothing more than to sink into the girl's arms and sleep. Quinn's muscles had stiffened under the stress of the day and she had been longing for a sweet embrace, a tender kiss, and a good night's rest next to the girl she was coming to care a great deal about.
Smiling softly, Quinn made a mental note to take Rachel to a nice restaurant this weekend and to surprise her with flowers. She had been a godsend in the short time that Quinn had known her, brightening up each day with her grin and desire to take over Broadway with only her talent to her name. The blonde had never been as proud of someone as she was of Rachel, fighting the temptations of the big wigs and putting all she was into the roles. Quinn was certain that with a little more time, the brunette's efforts would come to fruition and in the meanwhile, she'd work a little harder to show Rachel how wonderful she really was.
The door to the building was ajar and the blonde hesitated as she gripped the door knob. She could hear muffled yelling and a small peak inside revealed the director that she had previously seen at the auditions and Rachel at each others' throats on stage.
The blonde most certainly did not condone sneaking around nor did she condone eavesdropping but there was no way that she was going to interrupt the scene in front of her. Slipping inside quietly, Quinn ducked behind one of the nearest seats, taking in the view as the small brunette around the stage.
"You are the most unprofessional man I have met in my entire career." She seethed, practically spitting the words at the bored man standing in front of her. The two seemed to dance around each other, teeth bared, hands thrown up in the air. Quinn would have laughed if the tension in the room wasn't suffocating her.
"And that career is approximately how long?" He tossed out, running a hand through his hair and glaring at the huffing actress.
The pompous director Quinn had met only once rolled his eyes at the brief expression of hurt that flashed across the actress's face. "Oh please, you really think that puppy dog eyes work on a man like me? You and your work are as forgettable as they come. I have standards; expectations of my actors and actresses. Your performance last night was sub-par, Miss- ach! Your name is as forgettable as everything else I've seen about you."
Rachel's eyes steeled and she quirked an eyebrow up at "I don't believe that's what you said when I last performed for you. I remember a remark about going beyond expectations, sir."
"That performance was half-assed, Miss Berry, and you and I both know that."
"Oh, now my name comes back to mind." Rachel snapped, poking the man in his chest. "Funny, how it always seems to slip your mind when you need to give me the role that was promised me."
The blonde shook her head from behind the seats, certain that the director hated Rachel and that it was the sole reason she hadn't gotten the role in any of his productions. Though, Quinn had to admit that the brunette could hold her own quite well.
Suddenly, Rachel's bravado seemed to shatter and the girl's eyes welled up and her voice cracked on her words. "Please don't- Greg, that role was mine, please. I earned it. I- I listened to what you asked and I delivered. I- you said that I deserved it."
"And you did. Until someone else came by who proved themselves more worthy, Rachel!" He snarled, his voice thundering through the auditorium. "The role that was promised to you went to someone who deserved it more. I told you exactly what it would take to get this next role and now you have the choice. Are you going to seize this opportunity? Are you going to take your destiny and make it yours? Are you going to follow through and deliver on what has been asked of you, Rachel Berry?It's your life. It's your decision. What are you going to do?"
His voice echoed through the empty room, and Quinn moved out from the shadows she'd remained hidden, intent on stopping this conversation before it got even more out of hand. She had taken only her second step when Rachel looked up from her feet, her gaze hardening as she took in the tall man in front of her, though even Quinn could see her hands shake briefly before fisting by her sides.
She stepped closer to the director, her voice staying low as she shrugged off her sweater. "I'm going to take it."
Quinn returned to the café a little less than an hour after she fled the theatre. She shrugged off her coat, throwing it on the couch before moving quietly around the room: straightening crooked chairs, picking up crumpled pieces of paper and empty coffee cups; it had all become second nature to her. The blonde moved around mechanically, now picking up the dirty mugs and plates scattered around the room and placing them gently in to a bin resting on her hip.
The soft crooning of the music in the background was soothing. She could place the song immediately from the small selection the café kept on a loop, and it felt so normal that Quinn could almost cry at the sound.
A sound from the back room pulled the lithe girl from her reverie and she looked up, watching on as Kirsten danced into the room. The brunette was moving sensually to the next track that had began to play, her hips moving dangerously from side to side. Quinn's eyes lingered on the other girl for a moment too long, still unnoticed by the dancing barista.
"Fuck- Jesus, Quinn!" Kirsten exclaimed suddenly, body stilling immediately at the sight of the blonde woman. "How long have you been here?"
Quinn heard the words, but she found it difficult to react appropriately to them. Hazel eyes focused on the collarbones visible from the plaid top the brunette was wearing; following a path forged by a bead of sweat disappearing inside said shirt as a pink tongue darted out to wet a pair of lips that seemed incredibly dry.
The other girl stepped in front of the day dreaming blonde, snapping her fingers twice to get Quinn's attention. "Whatever the fuck you're smoking; go home and sleep it off. After the day I've had, I'm not about to deal with your high ass."
"I'm not high." Quinn responded softly.
"Fine, you're not high. Either help me clean up or get out of the café."
Dropping the bin she was holding, Quinn turned slowly on her heel, not showing the slightest reaction to the loud clattering of dishes.
"What the fuck, Q! Have you gone fucking mental?" Kirsten barked out, moving to crouch down and clean up the newly made mess on the floor. "Where's Rachel, anyway? At least when you're with her, you're not making my job any more difficult."
Quinn shook her head, "She's- um, she's probably still at the theatre."
Quirking an eyebrow, Kirsten looked impressed. "Huh. The munchkin's got the fire back. She keeps it up, and she'll get the next role for sure."
"Trust me, with the work she's putting in, she'll get the next twenty roles."
"You don't look happy." The brunette stated, brow furrowing ever so slightly.
"We're friends, right?"
Snorting, Kirsten quirked up an eyebrow at the other girl. "In your dreams, Fabray."
"Kirst, please." Quinn asked meekly, an entirely new demeanor overtaking the girl, her eyes searching Kirsten's franticly. "If I needed your help with something, could I count on you?"
The brunette straightened up and nodded solemnly. "Yeah, we're friends, Quinnie. I got your back." Pausing, she added as an afterthought. "Unless there's a dead body involved. I don't think I can help you bury it or something."
The blonde shifted her weight from one leg to another and back again, visibly contemplating her next words. Quinn reached out, ensnaring Kirsten's lips with her own. The kiss was brief but with a sort of desperation the blonde hadn't felt in a long time.
Suddenly, Quinn was pushed gently backwards, Kirsten's wide eyes filling her vision. "What the hell, Q? You know, on second thought, I think I'd rather deal with the dead body."
"Please-" The blonde started, eyes brimming with unshed tears as she reached out to hold tightly onto Kirsten's wrists. "She's cheating- the director…I just-" The words came out in sobs, broken and pleading. At the look of confusion on her friend's face, Quinn took a deep breath and continued, cringing when her voice cracked so heartbreakingly. "You were right."
Immediately leaning in again, Quinn kissed Kirsten once more; a simple kiss: one that wasn't meant to be vengeful or distraught; one that was asking, seeking for comfort, revenge, for something and anything at all. In all honesty, even the blonde girl had no idea what was happening, what was transpiring between Kirsten and herself. All she knew is that there was a void; a deep and dark emptiness residing where the singer could have sworn her heart used to be.
The emptiness that Quinn felt growing inside her, it threatened to take her over completely. She desperately wanted to wake up and realize that this entire thing was just a silly nightmare. She wanted Rachel to gather her as much as she possibly could in her embrace and kiss all of Quinn's fears away. The blonde hurt. She hurt and she hated it.
She had thought herself broken, but broken was an understatement. Quinn had been shattered. She had been so utterly and completely decimated the moment that Rachel had let that rough hand, a stranger's hand, caress her and make her his own.
And so Quinn ran.
AN: Unfortunately, the post is too big. The next part is posted in part B of this chapter. Sorry folks!