Chapter 4
The next afternoon, after school, Blaine sat at Quinn’s kitchen table with his homework spread out in front of him, but his mind wasn’t on the equations and notes in front of him. He’d been trying to push the thoughts of Sebastian aside, but they kept creeping in, distracting him. His thoughts kept returning to the conversation he had with Quinn yesterday, when they teased each other about their personal lives.
Now, as Quinn breezed through the kitchen, Blaine decided to ask something that had been on his mind.
“Hey, Quinn,” Blaine started, his voice casual but with an edge of curiosity. “Have you, uh… told Rachel about your feelings yet?”
Quinn froze for a moment, her back still turned as she reached for a glass. She didn’t answer immediately, but Blaine could tell his question had caught her off guard. When she turned to face him, her expression was guarded but thoughtful.
“Why do you ask?” she replied, setting the glass down and leaning against the counter, arms crossed. Her tone was neutral, but Blaine could sense a slight defensiveness beneath it.
Blaine shifted in his seat, unsure how to approach it without making her uncomfortable. “I just… I don’t know. I mean, you’ve liked her for a while now. I thought maybe you’d told her by now.”
Quinn’s eyes softened a little, and she sighed, shaking her head. “No, not yet. I guess I’m just… not sure. It’s complicated, you know? Rachel’s amazing, but I don’t want to mess things up by telling her something I’m not sure about myself.”
Blaine nodded, understanding more than she realized. “I get that. But I think she probably has an idea already, right? I mean, you two are pretty close.”
Quinn shrugged, her gaze distant as she looked out the window. “Yeah, we are. But sometimes, feelings can be tricky. I don’t want to make things awkward, you know? What if she doesn’t feel the same way?”
Blaine sat back in his chair, his heart aching a little for his best friend. He knew Quinn could be stubborn and tough, but when it came to matters of the heart, she had a tendency to hold back. He had always been able to talk to her about his own feelings, even when things got confusing with Sam and Sebastian, but he knew this was something Quinn had been quietly struggling with.
“Quinn, you’re one of the strongest people I know,” Blaine said, his voice sincere. “If Rachel cares about you as much as you care about her, it’ll work out. You just need to be honest. With her, and with yourself.”
Quinn met his eyes, her lips curling up into a small but genuine smile. “I guess I needed to hear that,” she admitted softly. “Thanks, Blaine.”
Blaine offered her a reassuring smile, though in the back of his mind, he couldn’t help but wonder if he was giving Quinn advice he should be following himself. If only it was that easy to be honest about his own feelings… about the pull he still felt toward Sebastian, even though he was with Sam.
He pushed that thought aside, focusing on Quinn again. “You’ll figure it out, you always do.”
Quinn laughed lightly, grabbing the glass of water she’d filled earlier. “You’re right. I just need to stop overthinking everything. I’ll talk to Rachel when the time feels right.”
Blaine nodded, feeling some of the tension between them ease. “Just make sure it’s the right time for you too.”
Quinn gave him a teasing look. “What, you trying to give me advice now?”
Blaine smirked. “Maybe I am. It’s just that you’re not the only one who needs to be honest about feelings, you know.”
Quinn raised an eyebrow, clearly catching the shift in Blaine’s tone. “Uh-oh, that sounds like a whole other story. What’s going on with you?”
Blaine opened his mouth to respond, but then he froze, realizing he had almost spilled more than he meant to. He quickly covered it up with a fake cough. “Oh, nothing. Just tired. You know how it is.”
Quinn gave him a knowing look, but she let it go for now. “Uh-huh, sure. But if you want to talk, I’m always here.”
Blaine smiled, appreciating the offer. “Thanks, Quinn. I’ll keep that in mind.”
As Quinn moved toward the door, Blaine’s mind wandered back to his own unspoken feelings—the confusion between Sam, his boyfriend, and Sebastian, Quinn’s brother. It was messy, and every time he tried to sort through it, he just felt more tangled. But for now, he was grateful for his conversation with Quinn. He hoped that, just like her, he’d figure things out soon enough.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
As Blaine sat at the lunch table with his friends, he tried to focus on their conversation about college plans, but the usual distractions lingered at the edges of his thoughts. His gaze flickered occasionally toward Quinn, who was animatedly talking to Rachel about a potential school in California, her voice full of excitement.
Blaine was doing his best to stay present in the conversation, nodding along as Sam spoke about applying to some top-tier universities. Sam was always confident, always in control, and Blaine admired him for that, even if his mind kept wandering.
“Got any top schools in mind?” Sam asked, nudging Blaine gently.
Blaine blinked and snapped back to the conversation. “Uh, yeah, I’ve been thinking about some music theatre programs. You know, places where I can really focus on performing, maybe..Julliard.” he said, offering a smile, though it felt a little forced.
Rachel grinned. “That sounds awesome, Blaine. You’ve got so much talent. Wherever you go, you’ll shine.”
Blaine appreciated Rachel’s encouragement, but his heart wasn’t really in the conversation. He kept stealing glances at Quinn, who was chatting with Rachel about dorm life, but that wasn’t what was on his mind. It was the memory of Sebastian, his best friend’s brother, still fresh from that night.
Blaine’s gaze shifted toward Sam, who was sitting beside him, and he reminded himself to stay focused. He had Sam. He couldn’t let his feelings for Sebastian complicate things, especially since Quinn had no idea about the storm Blaine was hiding in his chest.
“So, have you and Rachel decided where you want to go?” Blaine asked, trying to steer the conversation in a lighter direction.
Quinn shrugged nonchalantly. “Not yet. I mean, we’ve been looking at a few places, but nothing’s set in stone. What about you, Rach?” she asked, looking over at Rachel with an inquisitive smile.
Rachel leaned back in her chair, thoughtfully tapping her fingers on her cup. “I’m still deciding, but I’d love to go somewhere that’s got a good art program. Maybe out West? You know, like in LA or something.”
Blaine nodded along, trying to sound interested. He’d been talking about colleges for weeks now, but his mind kept drifting to a different set of plans. Plans that included feelings he wasn’t sure he could ignore anymore.
“I’ll figure it out,” Blaine said softly, mostly to himself. “Just gotta focus on what’s next.”
Quinn laughed lightly. “You’ll figure it out, Blaine. You always do.”
It was like she could read him so well, but still, Quinn had no idea about his feelings for her brother. Blaine had kept them buried for so long, pretending it was just a weird phase or some misplaced crush, but now, it was harder than ever to ignore.
Sam’s hand squeezed his briefly under the table, and Blaine glanced at him, giving him a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Sam had been a constant, steady presence in his life, but it was hard not to feel like something was missing, especially with Sebastian being so close, and Blaine having to keep everything hidden.
“Hey,” Sam said, his voice warm and casual. “Don’t stress about it too much. You’ve still got time.”
Blaine took a deep breath, nodding. He wanted to reassure Sam that everything was fine, that he was fine. He was just overthinking things.
“Yeah. You’re right,” Blaine said. “It’s just… sometimes it feels like there’s so much to figure out, you know?”
Quinn reached over and nudged him. “Well, you don’t have to do it alone. We’ve got your back, Blaine.”
Blaine looked at his friends, feeling a rush of gratitude. They truly cared about him, and he appreciated them more than they could ever know.
He glanced at Quinn, then back down at his food, pushing his feelings for her brother aside for the moment. He had Sam. And no matter how hard it was, that was what mattered most.
“Thanks, Quinn,” he said with a small smile. “I’ll figure it out.”
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
As the final bell rang, Quinn gathered her things in her arms and left as quickly as she could. She had been feeling an odd mix of excitement and nervousness all day, and now, as she met Rachel by the lockers, it all came rushing to the surface.
“Hey,” Quinn greeted, offering a small smile, but there was something off in her voice, something Rachel immediately picked up on.
Rachel raised an eyebrow. “Hey, you okay?” She tilted her head, her eyes softening in concern.
Quinn hesitated. There was so much she wanted to say, but it was hard to figure out where to start. She had been trying to push her feelings aside for weeks now, but they only seemed to grow stronger the more time she spent with Rachel.
“Actually, there’s something I need to talk to you about,” Quinn said, her voice a little quieter than usual as she adjusted the strap on her bag.
Rachel looked at her, her expression turning serious, sensing that this wasn’t just another casual conversation. “Of course. What’s up?”
They started walking toward the exit, the weight of the unspoken words hanging between them. As they stepped outside into the cool afternoon air, Quinn knew she couldn’t keep this bottled up anymore. She had to say it.
“I don’t know how to say this, but…” Quinn paused, her heart pounding in her chest. “I think I have feelings for you. More than just… friendship feelings.”
Rachel stopped walking, her eyes widening in surprise. For a moment, she just stared at Quinn, unsure of what to say. “Wait, what?”
Quinn’s face flushed, her fingers twisting around her backpack strap nervously. “I know it’s probably weird. We’ve been friends for so long, and I never thought I’d feel this way about you. But lately, I can’t stop thinking about you, Rachel. And it’s confusing, because you’re one of my best friends, and I don’t want to mess that up. But I also can’t ignore it anymore.”
Rachel blinked, processing what Quinn had just said. She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out at first. Finally, she let out a breath, running her fingers through her hair.
“I—I didn’t know,” Rachel said quietly. “I mean, I never thought you felt that way. I always thought we were just… close friends.”
Quinn nodded, feeling her heart sink just a little. “Yeah, I know. I didn’t want to ruin things. I kept telling myself it was just a phase or that it was all in my head, but it’s not. And I don’t want to keep hiding it. I guess I just needed to tell you.”
Rachel shifted her weight, taking a deep breath. “Quinn… I care about you so much. You’re one of my closest friends. But I think… I think I’m not there, you know? I don’t see you in that way. Not like you want me to.”
Quinn felt a wave of relief and disappointment crash over her all at once. It wasn’t the answer she had hoped for, but at least it wasn’t rejection, not in the way she feared.
“I understand,” Quinn said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just… I wanted to be honest with you.”
Rachel stepped closer, giving Quinn a small, reassuring smile. “I’m really glad you told me. And I hope we can still be friends. I know this isn’t easy, but I think we can work through it.”
Quinn nodded, her chest tight but her heart lighter. “Yeah, we will. Thanks for understanding, Rachel.”
Rachel reached out, pulling Quinn into a hug. “Of course, always.”
As they pulled away, Quinn forced a smile, trying to shake off the awkward tension. “So, want to walk home together?”
Rachel smiled back. “Definitely.”
And as they walked side by side, Quinn realized that telling Rachel how she felt was the first step to figuring out what came next—no matter how uncertain it was.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
It was late, the kind of stillness that settled over the house, making everything feel quiet and far away. Blaine had just finished a late-night study session and was getting ready for bed when he heard a knock on his door. Confused and a little startled, he stood up and walked over to open it, only to be met with a tear-streaked Quinn standing in the doorway.
“Quinn?” Blaine asked, his voice soft, eyes widening as he noticed the sadness in her expression. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”
Quinn didn’t answer right away. Instead, she just stepped forward into his room, her shoulders trembling as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. Blaine immediately closed the door behind her, concern flooding his chest.
“Quinn…” Blaine said gently, stepping closer to her. “What happened? Why are you crying?”
Quinn wiped at her face, looking up at him with red-rimmed eyes. Her voice shook as she spoke. “I told her, Blaine. I told Rachel how I feel.” She took a shaky breath, her lip trembling as the weight of the words hit her. “I told her that I have feelings for her. But… she doesn’t feel the same way.”
Blaine’s heart sank, his instinct kicking in to comfort her. He reached out, pulling her into a gentle hug, offering her a moment of solace. “Oh, Quinn… I’m so sorry. I know that must be so hard.”
Quinn’s sobs were quiet but filled with the weight of disappointment. “I thought maybe… maybe there was a chance. But she said she didn’t see me like that. She doesn’t feel the same. And now I feel like an idiot. Like I ruined everything.”
Blaine held her tighter, his own heart aching for her. “You’re not an idiot. You were brave, Quinn. It’s hard to put yourself out there, especially when you don’t know how the other person feels. But that doesn’t make you stupid. You did the right thing by being honest with her.”
Quinn pulled back slightly, shaking her head. “But now it’s weird. I feel like I’ve ruined our friendship. She doesn’t know how to act around me anymore. I don’t know if I can handle it.”
Blaine gave her a small, comforting smile. “It’s going to take time, but you’re not going to lose her over this. It might be awkward at first, but true friends can work through things. And Rachel, well, she’s your friend, and she cares about you. This might be hard right now, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end.”
Quinn sniffled, wiping her nose as she sat down on his bed. “I don’t even know what to do now. I don’t want to lose her, but I don’t know if I can just go back to pretending everything’s fine.”
Blaine sat beside her, his presence grounding her. “Take it one step at a time. Give yourself the space to process this. Just remember, it’s okay to feel hurt right now. You just have to be kind to yourself.”
Quinn nodded, the tears slowing as she leaned her head against his shoulder, seeking comfort in his quiet support. “I hate feeling like this,” she admitted in a soft whisper.
“I know, Quinn,” Blaine said softly, wrapping his arms around her. “But it’s part of life. You’re strong, and you’ll get through it. You don’t have to do this alone. You’ve got me.”
Quinn stayed there for a while, letting the quiet settle in, letting herself breathe again. She didn’t have all the answers, and she knew it would take time, but she felt a little bit lighter, knowing that she didn’t have to carry this weight on her own.
“Thanks, Blaine,” she said after a while, her voice a little steadier. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you tonight. I love you so much.”
Blaine smiled softly, squeezing her shoulder. “Anytime, Quinn. And i love you too.”
She managed a small smile, appreciating the easy comfort of his words. Blaine stood and crossed his arms casually, his tone light. “You know the drill. We’ve shared this bed a million times before. It’s not weird, right?”
Quinn laughed softly, wiping away the last remnants of her tears. “Yeah, no, it’s not weird. I know. We’ve been doing this forever.”
Blaine grinned. “Exactly. It’s like second nature at this point. Come on, let’s just crash for the night.”
Without any further hesitation, Quinn kicked off her shoes and lay down next to him, pulling the covers up. She was surprised at how much better it felt just to be here, in a place she knew she was safe.
As she adjusted her pillow, Blaine leaned over to turn off the lamp on his nightstand. The room fell into a comforting darkness, only the sound of their breathing filling the quiet. Quinn didn’t feel awkward, she had never felt anything but at ease with Blaine, and tonight, she was reminded of that. Once they were settled, facing each other in the dark, Quinn spoke up.
“Thanks, Blaine,” she murmured, smiling slightly at him. “For letting me stay.”
Blaine smiled softly. “Of course. You’re my best friend. I’ve got your back.”
Quinn chuckled lightly, feeling the last bit of tension leave her shoulders. “I know. That’s why I’m here.”
They lay there in silence for a few minutes, just the peaceful presence of each other’s company enough to help ease the weight of the day. Quinn felt herself drifting off, the warmth of the blankets and the steady, calming presence of Blaine beside her helping her feel safe again.
“Goodnight, Blaine,” Quinn murmured, her voice sleepy but content.
“Goodnight, Quinn,” Blaine replied, his voice gentle and relaxed.
And just like that, they both fell asleep, the familiar comfort of their shared space surrounding them, reminding them that no matter what, they would always have each other.