The Running Back

chapter 22

Brittany quickly sped out of the room, Santana in tow, after asking Rachel about her size. That left Rachel alone with her girlfriend and Gabrielle. There was a moment of silence before Gabby got to her feet. She smiled at them nervously and waved. "I guess I should go," she quickly said before heading for the door. She got as far as a step before Quinn called out for her.

"Stop," she said and Gabrielle did. Quinn waited until Gabby turned to them before continuing. "Things don't have to be weird between us and I'm sorry for being a bit cold towards you recently. I was being an overprotective girlfriend and I apologize for that. Forgive me?" Gabrielle looked surprised. She looked back and forth between and Rachel and Quinn's face before giving off a genuine smile.

"Of course. It made complete sense anyway," she reasoned.
"Maybe," Quinn guessed. "But I can't blame you for having a crush on Rachel. She is pretty amazing." She turned to her girlfriend and beamed.

"Yeah," Gabrielle agreed. "Besides, it could have been worse. It's not like I had a crush on..." Gabby quickly stopped herself before she said too much but her sudden silence had earned both Quinn and Rachel's rapt attention. Both of them had curious looks upon their faces. Rachel wanted to ask but she was pretty sure that Gabrielle was comfortable in answering. Quinn though didn't put too much thought into that before opening her mouth.

"Wait, who else do you have a crush on?

"No one!" Gabby squeaked, her cheeks growing a deep shade of red. Before Quinn could ask her again the door suddenly swung open. Quinn looked up, surprised at the idea that Santana and Brittany were back so soon, but it wasn't them standing outside Rachel's room.

"Frannie? What are you doing here?"

Frannie narrowed her eyes at her little sister with the slightest bit of annoyance. "You blubber to me over the phone about your girlfriend being hurt and you're surprised to see me here?"

"Oh."
"Yeah, oh. Also, who's the asshole with a mohawk who tried to hit on me?"

Rachel raised her hand slightly to answer. "That would be my best friend, Noah," she answered meekly while making a mental note to give him a good smack on the arm once she was feeling better. The anger on Frannie's face disappeared and was replaced with guilt.

"Did I say asshole? I meant..."

Frannie tried to find a word but she couldn't. Rachel spared her the trouble. "It's okay," she assured her. "That's just how he is around most girls." That didn't at all excuse his behavior but Rachel knew that Frannie had to have met some guys like that. "Anyway, it's so nice to finally meet you. Quinn's told me so much about you. You sound like such a great sister." Frannie raised an eyebrow in question. Rachel could see where Quinn had gotten that from.

"Really?" she asked in disbelief.

"What?" Quinn questioned. "Are you disappointed or something?"

"Not really, I guess," Frannie sighed. "I was just kind of hoping that..." She then shook her head. "You know what... never mind, I'm just glad that you're all right and I wish that we had met under better circumstances." Frannie went over to Rachel and gave her hug. She took a look around her room when she pulled back and only then did she realize that it wasn't just the three of them in the room. "Hi." She waved at Gabby, whose face was completely red. "I've seen you before haven't I? We've never properly met; I'm Quinn's sister Frannie." The blush on Gabrielle's cheek deepened, if that were even possible. "Are you okay?"

"Oh My God! You-" Before Quinn could finish Gabby rushed over and covered her mouth with her hands. Quinn's eyes narrowed and she grabbed Gabrielle's hands to pull them away from her face. Gabby only tried harder to keep her quiet.

"I'm fine," she told Frannie as she fought with Quinn. "I mean- I'm Gabrielle. I am fine, but you know... my name, its Gabrielle and uh... yeah, I'm fine." Frannie stared at her and then at Quinn and then finally at Rachel who was frozen in her spot as she watched everything. She hadn't been expecting that. Admittedly, Frannie was very beautiful much like Quinn and from what she had been told Rachel was certain that she was an amazing person.

"Okay," Frannie replied skeptically. "I'm going to head downstairs and grab me some water."

Once she was gone Gabrielle immediately let go of Quinn's mouth. "I'm sorry," she apologized quickly and Quinn's expression softened. "I knew what you were going to say and I couldn't let you. I'm really sorry Quinn. Please don't be mad."

"You have a crush on my sister!" Gabrielle made no attempts to deny Quinn's accusations. She looked down at her lap, embarrassed that her little secret was now out in the open. "Oh my God, oh my God, I- how- my sister, really?"

Gabby shrugged slightly. "I don't know," she answered quietly. "I mean like, she's really cool and like so hot." She giggled nervously at that and Quinn physically recoiled.

"Ew, that's my sister you're talking about," she reminded.

Rachel scooted over to Quinn and took a hold of her hand. She squeezed it lightly to get her attention. "Why don't we just forget about this?" she suggested. Gabrielle had been embarrassed enough already and it wasn't as though her crush on Frannie was the worst thing that could happen. Quinn gave her a look and then huffed out in frustration, but she let the topic pass and Rachel rewarded her with a kiss on the cheek. A small smile grew upon her face and she slowly lifted her head to look up at Gabrielle.

She let out a sigh before speaking. "Sorry," she apologized. "I didn't mean to get mad. It's just... weird." Gabby gave a weak chuckle. "It's okay. I probably shouldn't have said that your sister was hot."
"Yeah, you probably shouldn't have," Quinn agreed with a grimace.
"Sorry, I'll make sure not to do that again," she promised while nervously rubbing the back of her neck. "So... are we okay?"

"We're okay... just, don't talk about my sister like that ever again."

It wasn't until much later on that Brittany and Santana returned. They had gotten Rachel a couple of outfits. She refused them at first but Brittany insisted and well... it wasn't easy to say no to Brittany. Rachel looked through the clothes that they had bought her and found that a few of them to be a bit more revealing that she was comfortable with. But everyone, even Quinn, agreed that her skirts were just as revealing. Rachel had gotten mildly irritated at that, but a bit of sweet talking was all that was needed to cool her down, although Rachel was still skeptical over wearing something that would show off so much cleavage.

Much to Rachel's surprise, not everything they had gotten was for her. They had also gotten something for Quinn. It was inside a box so no one could see what it was. As they handed it to her, Brittany and a wide smile upon her face while Santana wore an evil smirk. Quinn was cautious as she opened it. There was no denying that they were up to something. Rachel had a perfect view of the box since she was sitting right next to Quinn. And once it was opened fully, her mouth fell agape. Quinn was in a similar state.

"Looks like Berry likes it," Santana said, still wearing that smirk. Quinn looked over to her.

"Well... I suppose I could use some nursing." "Wow, um... I think I should get out of here."

"Oh, Gabby I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," Rachel tried to apologize as Santana burst out laughing. Gabrielle was already out of the door though and so Brittany decided to drag Santana out as well, leaving Rachel and Quinn alone. "I feel so embarrassed."

"Why don't I see if I can make you feel better then?"