Rachel Berry.
Whenever sophomore-year Quinn Fabray heard that name, she would’ve rolled her eyes or pretended to gag. But ever since that day in the choir room—singing that duet with Rachel during junior year, when she’d been wrongfully messing with the idea of a nose job—Quinn couldn’t muster that same reaction. It would’ve been fake.
She realized, much too late, that the only reason she’d been so upset about Finn and Rachel was that she wanted Rachel. Not Finn.
Sure, she liked the idea of being with Finn. He looked good on paper, he was on the football team, and he represented everything Quinn thought she was supposed to want. But when she really thought about it—when she stripped away the facade—she realized she didn’t feel anything for him.
And that’s why standing here at the Lima Train Station, fighting to keep her tears at bay, felt like her heart was being torn apart.
Quinn quickly slipped her fingers under her sunglasses, trying to wipe away the tears before anyone could notice. She swallowed hard, willing herself to stop shaking, but the sinking feeling in her stomach only deepened.
Rachel walked toward her, tears streaming down her face, and Quinn was caught off guard when Rachel threw her arms around her. She hesitated at first, but then, almost instinctively, she hugged back. She hugged tight.
“I know we haven’t always gotten along,” Rachel said, her voice shaky, as if she was fighting the same emotions Quinn was. “But I’m really glad we were able to become friends this year. And I hope… we can stay in touch.”
Rachel pulled away, giving her one last, small smile. With one final glance, she turned and walked toward the train.
Quinn stood there, frozen, as Rachel boarded. The moment felt surreal. She was the first from the Glee club to leave the station, running to her car in a daze.
In the safety of the car, Quinn finally let go. She didn’t bother wiping her tears away anymore. She just cried—loud, raw sobs that seemed to come from the depths of her soul.
For the rest of her life, Quinn would wonder what could’ve been if she’d realized she was in love with Rachel Berry before pushing her away. Before Rachel got engaged to Finn. Before Quinn could even admit that loving a girl wasn’t a death sentence to her picture perfect future. That maybe it would have been what made her future perfect.