The Running Back

Chapter 9

"Oh, I'm sorry. I-I'll call back later."

"No," Quinn interrupted before Rachel could hang up. "I'm already awake. It's just I usually try to sleep in on Saturdays. Practice is always so hectic so it's nice to get some rest in when I can," she explained. "It's okay though. What did you call for?" Rachel probably should have expected as much, especially since Noah was still asleep when she had called him, but her excitement had gotten the best of her. She felt bad for waking Quinn, which in turn also made feel bad about waking Noah.

She still considered letting Quinn have her rest, but she was wasting time thinking so she decided to go with her original plan. "Well, I was wondering if you're doing anything later... or tomorrow. I just wanted to ask you out... on a date... with me." That could have gone far more eloquently but Rachel had done it; she had asked Quinn out. Quinn giggled.

"That sounds nice."

"Is that a yes?" Again Quinn laughed.

"Yes, that's a yes. You have any particular plans for where you want to take me?"

No, Rachel didn't. She had to come up with something fast. "Well, I was thinking that uh..." Nervously, she started twirling her hair around her finger. She glanced out the window. The sun was bright, the sky clear. There was a light breeze. It looked like a nice day, a perfect day for a... "Picnic! I thought that a picnic would be nice."

"Okay, I like the sound of that. When should I come pick you up?"

"Oh, Quinn. You don't have to do that. I can pick you up. I'll just have to borrow my Daddy's or Papa's car."

"I want to," Quinn insisted.

"Are you sure?" Rachel didn't really want to make Quinn drive to her place, but she did need time to get ready. She'd have to shower and go through her daily routine and then after that she'd have to prepare some food and find the picnic basket and blanket.

"I am. So what time?"

"All right," Rachel resigned. "Around noon should be good." "Noon it is. I'll see you in a couple of hours. Bye."

"Bye."

Rachel had plenty of time. She jumped out of bed and stretched a bit. Her body was a little sore, no doubt due to the hits she had taken during the game. She hadn't really felt the pain during the party, but that was most likely because she was having such a good time. She massaged her side and then went into her bathroom and quickly hopped into the shower. After that she went through her morning routine before heading to the kitchen to make something for her picnic with Quinn.

The fridge wasn't as stock as Rachel would have liked, but she had enough to work with. She could only hope that Quinn would like what she would end up making. Just to be on the safe side Rachel decided to bring along some strawberries and to bake some cookies for dessert. Rachel knew that Quinn would love them since everyone always did; everyone being Rachel's family as well as Noah and his family.

At some point her dads' woke up. Leroy came into the kitchen and found his daughter hard at work. "What's all this for sweetheart?" he asked, coming over to her and planting a kiss on the top of her head. "Looks good," he commented as she watched her prepare a salad.

"It's not for you Daddy."

"Oh, then who is it for?"

"A friend," Rachel answered vaguely. "Daddy, do you know where the picnic basket is?"

"I do. Why do you need it?"

"No reason. I just..."

"Does my little girl have a date?" Busted. There was no point in lying. Rachel was a superb actor, but her  skills didn't work to well when it came to her dads. They knew her too well. Besides, the brief silence that came after his question was enough of an answer. Rachel could just imagine the smile on his face.