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When you came home, you found your girlfriend sitting at the kitchen table. She had wrapped herself in a blanket and was slowly leafing through a cheerleading magazine. A cup of tea stood beside her.
You slowly sneaked up behind her and gently put your hands over her eyes. “Who is it?”
Quinn giggled. “A burglar, no doubt.” She said with soar voice.
“That’s right.” You whispered in her ear. “I’m here to steal your heart.”
She laughed, then coughed.
You hugged her from behind, putting your chin on her shoulder. “Aw, you still sound so sick. Why aren’t you in bed?”
“It was boring.” She sighed. “Besides, it’s not that bad. I’m returning to school tomorrow.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Q.”
“You want me there with you, don’t lie.”
You laughed and took a seat next to her. “I did miss you today. So did everyone in Glee club. I almost couldn’t stop them from dedicating today’s song to you. Told them like a hundred times that it was just a cold.”
“See?” Quinn raised her eyebrows. “You said it yourself. It’s just a cold.”
“Ugh, stop it!” You crossed your arms, leaning back on your chair.
“Stop what?”
“You’re downplaying it!”
“I’m not downplaying anything.” She shook her head. “But I’m not a quitter either. You know for well every lesson is important this time of the year. I can’t afford to miss many. And with cheerleading practice and Glee …”
You scoffed. “Coach Sue would not want you to turn up sick for training. She’d kick you out of the gym in a second.”
“I’m not sick!” Quinn’s hand came down on the table. The cup wobbled, and a little tea spilled onto the magazine.
You flinched. Fighting was the last thing you wanted to do with Quinn. Besides, she was ill. How could you start a fight with your ill girlfriend? “I’m taking a shower.” You said quietly. “I’m sorry.”
You hurried to the bathroom, still wondering at what point your conversation had turned in the wrong direction. After showering, you put on your pyjamas. You felt exhausted and tired, almost more so than before the shower. Back in the kitchen, Quinn’s chair was empty. The tea cup, now filled with cold and stale tea was still standing on the table. You took it to the kitchen and placed it in the sink. While you waited for the water to boil on two fresh cups of tea, you hummed the melody of today’s song from Glee club. Mr. Shue really was a genius when it came to picking out songs. You instantly felt a bit better. You also had an idea how to make up with your girlfriend.
A minute later, you slowly entered the bedroom. Quinn, who had buried herself under her favourite blanket, looked up and started laughing.
“Stop!” You shouted but couldn’t help it and started laughing too. “I will drop everything, stop!” You carried the two cups of tea in your hands while also awkwardly holding your folder of notes from school pressed to your side with your one arm, and your pencil case with the other. You probably looked like a circus act.
Quinn reached out her arms and took the folder and pencils from you. “What’s happening?” She asked, still giggling.
“A distraction.” You answered after carefully putting down the tea on Quinn’s nightstand. “You said you were bored – so I will try to un-bore you.”
Your girlfriend broke out in a new fit of laughter, which was quickly interrupted by a coughing fit. You hurried to sit down next to her and offer her a cup of tea. “Here.” You said softly and stroked her back.
“Thanks.” She whispered before taking a sip, her voice sounding huskier than ever. “Hm. Is this camomile?”
You nodded.
“Yours too?” Quinn gestured to the second cup.
You smiled. “Yeah. In solidarity.”
“(y/n)! You but you hate camomile tea.” She shook her head.
“Optionally it’s for you if you need more. But it’s fine, I’ll drink it either way.”
“Even though you hate it.”
“Even though I hate it.”
“I appreciate that.” Quinn smirked. “The sacrifices you’re making for me.”
You nodded with a serious look in your eyes. “You should, Q. There are not many people I would poison myself for.”
You both broke out into laughter again. “Poison?” Quinn asked. “Then how come it’s making me feel better?”
You placed one of your hands on her cheek. “Are you?” You asked softly. “Feeling better?”
Quinn sighed, encompassing the teacup with her hands. “No, not really. But I just can’t afford to miss another day of school.”
“What you can’t afford is to get even sicker.” You pulled your girlfriend against your chest. “I love you, Quinn. Please grant yourself another day of quiet.”
She stayed silent but wrapped her arms around you in a hug.
“I’ll catch you up on what you missed today.” You said, picking up your folder of notes. “And tomorrow, we negotiate again. Deal?”
Quinn bit her lip, then looked up at you. “Deal.” She finally said. “Now un-bore me. What did you do in calculus today?”
“As if that will un-bore you.” You rolled your eyes playfully. “Do we have to start with the worst subject? You hate calculus.”
“I’ll suffer in solidarity.” Quinn said, beaming up at you.
You smiled back. “Even though you hate it?”
“Even though I hate it.”
And so, you explained the past lesson to her, then you moved on to history class. After that it was Spanish, English and finally … “Do you also want me to tell you what we did in Glee?”
“Of course!” Quinn said. “What song did they dedicate to me?”
To build suspense you kept quiet for a few seconds.
“Well?”
“Queen. ‘Doing All Right.’”
You waited for an exciting reaction, but your girlfriend just knitted her eyebrows. “I … I don’t think I know that one.”
You softly shook your head. “I’m sure the whole club will sing it for you once you come back.” Since your study session had ended, you got off the bed and collected your notes and pens as well as the teacups.
“Wait.” Quinn grabbed your hand and pulled you back. “Can’t you sing it for me right now?”
You turned to her, now again huddled up under her blanket. Your hand in hers was pressed to her chest. Her eyes were big and wonderfully green, if a bit tired, and her bottom lip was pushed forward in a slight pout. She knew you couldn’t resist that look.
“But … you need rest!” You protested.
“Come on, I still need to be un-born!” Quinn interrupted herself. “Un-bored, I mean.”
You laughed and gave in, laying down next to her in the bed. “My un-born girlfriend.” You mused.
“You know what I mean!”
“Do I?”
“Ugh, just sing.”
Before you started, you took her in your arms as best as you could in your position. “Yesterday, my life was in ruins.” You whisper-sang to your girlfriends. “Now today, I know what I’m doing. I gotta feeling, I should be doing all right.”
Once you finished the verse, Quinn had already fallen asleep in your arms.