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The cheers are deafening. McKinley just won their first football game of the season and Rachel is dying under her mascot costume. She wanted to support Finn, especially since he’s going to be her leading man in glee club, so what better way to support him than to be on the field? Just secretly. Dressed as a big, brown bear with the McKinley colors splashed on it’s torso and upper legs, Rachel had to get out of this costume. It was mid-August and probably 1 billion degrees and Rachel seriously thought she was about to pass out. They should invest in air conditioning in this costume. After seeing people trail out of the stadium, she waits a minute or two until she’s positive that all the cheerleaders left the locker room.
The Cheerios were definitely McKinley’s biggest talent. Fifty girls all clad in red, white, and black uniforms ambled amongst the school hallways in intimidation. Led by head cheerleader Quinn Fabray, they made sure everyone at McKinley was in their place and was aware of it. This of course meant that they shamelessly bullied anyone who wasn’t on a sports team. Thankfully, since Rachel was quite literally invisible except the fact that Finn Hudson knew her, the Cheerios stayed away from her.
Rachel enters the locker room and is in such a hurry to get out of her costume that she doesn’t hear a shower still running and soft humming flowing through the shower walls. The brunette pulls the heavy head that feels like fifty pounds off her head and sighs with content. The cool breeze from the locker fans blew on her flushed cheeks lightly and Rachel graced a small smile as she got ready to change out of her costume. Rachel shimmies out of the rest of her costume when she sees it.
Quinn Fabray in all her wet-haired-mouth-wide-open glory.
Before Rachel could speak and try to explain herself, Quinn opened her mouth. “I didn’t realize you were a girl.” Rachel opens her mouth and closes it. “Or pretty.”
Rachel gulps audibly before stepping out of her costume completely. “Well, now you know.” She states calmly. Quinn smiles.
“I do. Nice to know something no one else knows, right?”
“You can’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t. Don’t worry. You can trust me.”
Rachel holds back her scoff. “You’re a Cheerio. People like you would torment me if I wasn’t friends with Finn.”
Quinn’s eyes widen in realization. “You’re friends with Finn?” Rachel nods. “Sorry, I didn’t get your name…”
“Rachel. Uh, Berry.”
“Right, well, Rachel Uh Berry, I’ll catch you later.” Quinn winks and strolls out of the locker room.
What the hell just happened?
The next day at school, Rachel walked through the halls with her head down. She didn’t know if Quinn had told everyone her secret and was scared to know the answer. Opening her locker, she didn’t notice Quinn standing there until the cheerleader cleared her throat. Rachel jumped in the air.
“Oh, hi, Quinn. Didn’t see you there.”
Quinn smirks. “Because you were too busy looking at your shoes?” Rachel sheepishly nods. The blonde grins. “Listen, do you maybe want to eat lunch together? In the auditorium. Finn told me you eat there.”
Rachel looks around. “Won’t you be, like, burned for talking to me?”
“Is that a yes?”
Rachel sighs and let’s a smile form on her lips. “Only if you’re on time. I won’t let late people eat lunch with me.”
Quinn chuckles. “Walk you to first?”
“Sure.”
Rachel rushes to the auditorium after her class dismissed for lunch. To make sure Quinn isn’t playing some sick joke on her, she has to get there earlier in case the blonde tries to plant some sort of pre-disaster set up. Swinging the auditorium door open, Rachel is taken aback when she sees Quinn already there, laying on the stage with her legs dangling off. Trying to not ogle the cheerleader’s legs, Rachel clears her throat. Quinn shoots up and almost gives herself whiplash, but when she notices that it’s Rachel, she visibly relaxes.
“Didn’t see you there, bear.”
Rachel rolls her eyes at the nickname. “I thought you weren’t coming until later.”
Quinn shrugs. “Wanted to be extra early. You did say you didn’t like late people. I don’t want you to not like me.” Rachel’s breath hitches at the soft innuendo.
“Right,” Rachel breathes out. Noticing that she’s still at the entrance of the auditorium, she carefully makes her way to Quinn, hoping to not set up any boobie traps.
Noticing this, Quinn chuckles. “You know, I wouldn’t set up a trap or anything.” When Rachel looks at her with wide eyes, she continues. “I’m not like them, Rachel. I thought you would know that by now.”
Rachel lets herself relax. “I’m sorry it’s just-”
“Don’t worry about it,” Quinn waves her off. “I understand.” Rachel softly smiles before settling down next to Quinn on the stage.
The two start eating with a comfortable conversation flowing between them.
“How do you know Finn?” Quinn asks.
“You seem to ask about him a lot.” Rachel answers instead.
“Do you like him?”
Rachel nods. “Yeah, he’s one of the only friends I really have so-”
“No, Rachel. I meant, do you like him?”
Rachel’s eyes fly open in realization. “Oh… oh! Uh, no. Why? Do you like him?”
Quinn shakes her head. “Boys aren’t really my thing.” The blonde turns her head and meets chocolate eyes.
“Yeah, me too.” Rachel whispers. She was enthralled by Quinn’s eyes, green but with specks of brown in them. The two stayed like that until the bell rang, staring into each other’s eyes.
The first time Rachel realized she had it bad for Quinn was when the blonde invited her to her house. Judy, Quinn’s mom, had welcomed her with a big hug.
They were lounging around in Quinn’s room, watching Legally Blonde on loop on Quinn’s laptop.
“Can I tell you something? Promise you won’t tell anyone.” Quinn pauses the movie.
“Yeah, of course.” Rachel says, turning her head to meet Quinn’s. Their heads were probably a few inches apart and Rachel couldn’t help but notice Quinn’s eyes flick to her lips.
“Have you ever wondered why I never bring up my dad?” Rachel shakes her head. “It’s hard to even talk about him, but I trust you so…” Quinn breathes out shakily.
“You don’t have to tell me if you’re not ready, Quinn.”
The blonde purses her lips before sighing. “I want to.” Rachel nods and urges the blonde to continue. “My dad… he was probably my biggest supporter when I was a child. I mean, I was his perfect child after all. I was pretty, I wanted to be a cheerleader, and I got good grades. Freshman year, I started noticing that I wasn’t attracted to any of the boys at school and after a few months of coming to terms with it, I realized I was lesbian. My family were very Christian and I knew I couldn’t come out to them any time soon. So I didn’t. That was until one of his friends saw me with a girl…” Quinn stops abruptly and closes her eyes. “I wasn’t with her romantically in-in a sense, but his friend took it that way. So, I came out to him and Mom. I-It was probably the scariest moment of my life because I knew that they wouldn’t accept me. Did-did you know they kicked me out?” Rachel’s breath hitched and the brunette shut her eyes closed in an attempt to clear out the images of Quinn crying. “I only had half an hour to pack and leave, Rachel. I had to stay with Santana for the rest of freshman year before my mom showed up on Santana’s doorstep, crying. She told me she divorced Russell and that she wanted me back. I, of course, accepted her and she had supported me. I just felt like Russell made me who I am at school, you know? All the bitchy remarks, slushies thrown, it was a way to let my anger out on him. God, Rach, I was just so scared.” After Quinn finishes, she lets the first tear trail down her cheek, but Rachel wipes it away quickly.
“Come here.” Rachel mutters. She brings the sobbing blonde into her arms and the two stay there for the rest of the night, safe in each other’s embrace.
“Hey…” Quinn says, stepping next to Rachel as the two start walking in the halls.
“Hi, Quinn.” Rachel smiles.
The two have been hanging out for almost three months now and the tension has gotten very thick. Rachel could feel it and she knew Quinn did too. But, she was so afraid to make a move because there was still a flicker of fear that Quinn was leading her on into some cruel joke led by the Cheerios.
Thankfully, it was only a very small sliver. She did like Quinn after all.
“So, our last game of the season is today. You should show everyone who you are.”
Rachel looked at Quinn incredulously. “What?”
Quinn nods. “Yeah, I mean the season is basically over, so why would it matter? Plus, everyone’s dying to know already.”
“I’m not doing that. The point was to stay secret.” Rachel hisses.
Quinn rolls her eyes and wraps her arm around Rachel’s shoulder and brings her in closer, whispering, “It’s a shame that I have to keep you a secret.” Quinn’s voice sounded so needy and whiney that Rachel swears she almost passed out on the spot. Rachel reddens and looks away before looking back at Quinn only to notice that she’s still near Rachel’s cheek, glancing at her lips.
“What?”
“Nothing. I’ll see you later.” Quinn says quickly with a flush.
That’s when Rachel knew. Quinn liked her back. She had to form a plan.
The stadium was packed. The student section practically had people pouring out of it. Rachel looked around through her translucent bear eyes and saw Quinn talking to Finn, who was holding a big, white sign. Rachel narrowed her eyes because she knew Finn wasn’t already done with her plan. Rachel had told the boy that she was the mascot a couple days ago and they came up with a plan to woo Quinn with a sign on the field and Rachel attempting to do a backflip. She practiced.
Her focus is back on Finn when he stumbles over to Rachel, clad in all of his heavy football gear.
“Rach, there’s a problem.”
“What?”
“I-” Finn looks back to Quinn who has her arms crossed and is glaring evenly at the tall boy. “I can’t do your, uhm, wooing process.” Finn cringes at his own wording and sheepishly smiles at Rachel.
“Sorry.”
“What?” When Finn walks away, Rachel throws her arms up. “Finn! I promised to buy you Call of Duty 3!” When Finn doesn’t turn around, Rachel storms up to Quinn.
“Quinn Fabray!” Rachel booms.
The blonde, who is talking to Santana, turns around.
“Uh, did that bear just speak?” Santana asks with a raised eyebrow.
Quinn can’t help but giggle at Rachel’s way of being intimidating even though the short brunette is clad in a bear costume for heaven’s sake.
“Hey.” By now, Santana is weirded out so the girl walks away in hopes that Quinn will deal with her freak-fest before the game starts.
“What did you say to Finn?”
“Nothing..?”
“Cut the crap!” Rachel stomps her foot. Quinn smiles and shakes her head.
“I didn’t say anything, bear.” The teasing term comes out more as an endearment this time and Rachel feels herself heat up because of it. But, she blames it on the scorching heat. Even though it’s December. That’s besides the point…
“I’m mad at you now.”
“I hope you won’t be after this game, Rach.” Quinn says and with that, the blonde saunters away, skirt pleats swaying in the cool air. Rachel gulps and looks away before she can think of anything remotely inappropriate.
The game starts off strongly, Finn throwing tons of wonderful throws and Rachel got to dance around and high five people in the stands.
When the game ends with another McKinley win, Rachel starts to trudge off the field. To say that she was disappointed with Quinn was an understatement. What if the girl found out about Rachel’s plan and stopped it because Quinn didn’t feel the same way?
When Rachel opens the locker room door, the lights are off. Furrowing her eyebrows, because usually by now the Cheerios are leaving the locker room so Rachel can secretly undress herself. She flicks the light switch on and music starts blasting.
Rachel’s eyes widen and she ponders running for a moment because no one — sans Quinn and Finn — know she’s the mascot. Realizing that’s dumb, Rachel decides to listen to what Quinn said earlier and reveal herself. She puffs her chest and waits for the blow.
However, the blow never came but instead she saw Quinn with a white sign in her hand.
The cheerleader had a small smile on her face and a blush spread across her pale face when she turned the sign around. Rachel already felt tears welling up in her eyes.
The sign read : I don’t have anything clever to say, but bear, please go out with me! In the corner, there was a small bear drawing and a cheerleader and Rachel couldn’t take it anymore. She ran up to Quinn and jumped up, wrapping her legs around the blonde’s waist and hugging her close, nuzzling into Quinn’s shoulder.
“Yes,” Rachel sobs, “I will.” She feels Quinn relax with relief.
“I’m sorry I told Finn to stop your plan. It would be weird if we both did basically the same thing at the same time and I wanted to woo you so I had to.” Quinn explains when they detach.
Rachel nods in understanding. “God, I-I,” Rachel laughs through her tears. “I thought you didn’t feel the same way and that’s why you stopped me.”
Quinn shakes her head wildly. “No! I think it’s the opposite anyways.”
Rachel grins and wraps her arms around Quinn’s neck.
“You know, I think after you confess to someone, you owe them something.” Quinn quirks an eyebrow and wraps her arms around Rachel’s waist.
“Like what?”
“Quinn!”
The blonde chuckles before pulling Rachel in and kissing her.