A Second Chance

Quinn

Quinn woke up the next morning feeling slightly groggy and extremely hungry. She vaguely remembers walking from Shimmer’s stable, opening her apartment door, and immediately finding the bed and crashing.

She realizes the source of her waking: bangs on the door, echoing through the apartment. She groans, glancing at the clock. Nine o’clock. She decides to count her blessings and decide it was good enough.

She walks over to the door, flinging it open to see an enthusiastic Dina, hand in mid-knock.

“Finally!” she says, pushing her way in without another word.

“Come on in,” Quinn says sarcastically, dramatically closing the door. Dina makes her way to Quinn’s couch, where Dina pats the cushion next to her as an invitation to sit. Quinn obliges, feeling slightly concerned about what could be going on, but Dina didn’t look upset so there was one good thing.

“First of all, did you sleep in your clothes?” Dina asks. Quinn glances down, noting the jeans and crumpled t-shirt. Honestly, she was amazed she fell asleep in jeans herself.

“Guess so,” Quinn mumbled, feeling slightly self-conscious now that Dina pointed it out. Dina waved a hand dismissively.

“Anyways, come to the pub tonight. They’re having this event because Jackson was settled some-odd years ago or whatever,” Dina says, grinning excitedly. Quinn’s eyebrows rose, trying to mimic her enthusiasm but knowing she was epically failing. Dina gives Quinn a little push. “Come on! Let your hair down a little!” Dina glances up at the mess of a ponytail Quinn’s hair currently was in. Quinn reaches up and touches it, cheeks aflame. “Both literally and figuratively.”

“Okay, was this all you needed to tell me?” Quinn asks, obviously annoyed. It was nine in the morning. She could’ve slept in for another hour.

“Just be there. Me, Jesse, Ellie…” Dina says, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively at the last name. Quinn barely realized what Dina was implying before she stood up and made her way back to the front door.

“Wait, Dina!” Quinn exclaimed, racing after her, slightly confused. “What–?”

“See you tonight, seven pm sharp!” Dina says before giving Quinn a wink and practically sprinting out the door. Feeling slightly discombobulated, Quinn blinks a few times. That’s really all she came here for? Couldn’t wait another hour?

Quinn grumbles some more before turning the knob on her shower. She’s already up, might as well get started on the day. She’s slightly proud that she didn’t immediately flop back on her bed and go to sleep.

— — — —

Seven o’clock rolled around and Quinn made her way to the pub, opening the door to lights strung across the ceiling, the atmosphere warm and comfortable and obviously celebratory. She slips through the crowd towards the bar, where she sits on a bar stool and orders a beer. The bartender hands her a bottle and she takes a sip, turning so she’s facing the majority of the room.

Although Quinn’s hesitancy to succumb herself to Jackson’s niceties finally wore off and the shell was beginning to crack, she still enjoyed the occasional people-watching. She observed the distinct groups of people scattered throughout the room, the dancing groups, the chatting groups, the groups sitting at the tables laughing. She actually spotted Joel sitting at a table in the corner, talking to a group of guys. Then her eyes slid across the room and saw her friends, just like Dina said. Dina’s eyes caught Quinn’s, and she motioned to Jesse and Ellie, making their way through the crowd.

“You came!” Dina says when they finally are within earshot. Quinn smiles.

“Of course, anything for you Dina,” Quinn says playfully, and Dina jokingly pressed the back of her hand to her forehead, fanning her face.

“Jesse, why don’t you ever say things like that to me? I’m about to ask Quinn to take me.” Dina winked at Quinn, before turning on Jesse who was rolling his eyes.

Quinn takes a sip from the bottle, where the four of them stood talking until Quinn’s ears perked. She started humming along, tapping her fingers on the bar counter.

“Ugh, this song is good,” Quinn says. Dina wiggles her eyebrows, taking Quinn’s hand.

“And good to dance to!”

“No,” Quinn groaned, but a smile slid across her face, and she grabbed Ellie’s wrist before Ellie could slip away. Ellie made a face but didn’t resist.

At first, it was mostly Dina dancing. But then Quinn caught Ellie moving her shoulders, so then of course Quinn had to point that out, to which Ellie accused Quinn of swaying her hips. So soon they were all dancing, even a begrudging Jesse. Quinn was full-on shimmying with Ellie, who was laughing at Quinn’s slightly tipsy state as she was halfway through her second beer bottle. Ellie’s eyes were lit up beautifully under the warm strung lights, her hair pulled back into a bun with stray strands falling out. Quinn had to force herself from staring too long, even though Ellie probably noticed her prolonged stares anyways.

“I’m gonna catch my breath,” Quinn says after the music begins to slow, her cheeks warm from both the alcohol and dancing. Ellie just gives a thumbs up in response, left to third wheel with Dina and Jesse, and Quinn leaves to stand on the porch outside the pub.

She walks out, enjoying the cool air relieving her hot face. She leans against the railing, just staring and collecting her thoughts. She could hear music wafting through the air into the night.

“Warm enough?” came a voice from beside Quinn. She jumps, turning to see Joel, holding a mug of something. She relaxes when she realizes who it is. Although Joel still intimidates her, she’s warmed up to him and, at least she hopes, he is up to her. Quinn’s actually gone on a patrol trip with him, which was painstakingly awkward, but it ended up leading to more patrols with an easier atmosphere. She’s just praying in her tipsy state she doesn’t say anything extremely embarrassing.

She smells something delicious in the air and traces it back to the cup that Joel was holding. Narrowing her eyes, she asks, “Is that coffee? At nine o’clock at night?”

He grunts. “Helps me sleep.”

Quinn dubiously nods, sure that he drinks it to just be slightly less irritable than normal, and they fall silent. She stares into the sky, looking at the moon in all her glory, the stars beautifully bright, dotting the black backdrop. She remembers some of the older people here raving about how much clearer you could see the sky after breakout day. Clearer skies from less pollution, meaning more stars and brighter nights. Quinn can’t even imagine not being able to see the sky in its full glory and be nothing short of amazed.

"You were quite the dancer," Joel notes, earning a blush from Quinn. Great. Glad he was watching. Quinn laughs, maybe a little too loudly, and shrugs.

"Yeah. I forget what not having a care in the world is like," Quinn says. She sees Joel nod in her periphery.

"It's nice to see everyone, even Ellie, let loose for a little bit," he says quietly. "You guys are just kids, after all." Quinn smiles at that. He sounds like the weathered old man he looks like, calling everyone below the age of thirty 'kids.' Quinn nods, not really knowing what to say to that.

The door suddenly opens and Quinn turns to see Ellie stomping out.

“Hey, Ellie,” Quinn says, but Ellie ignores her. Quinn raises an eyebrow, feeling a little rejected. Joel immediately stood up and walked after her. Here we go.

“Ellie,” he calls, and they walk down the dirt road together. Ellie stops and turns around with her arms crossed, facing Joel. Quinn looks back up and scrutinizes the sky, pretending not to be totally eavesdropping on their conversation.

“Ellie, what happened?” Joel asks, which was met with silence. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”

“Just some dickhead calling me a dyke, but—,” Ellie says, to which Quinn’s eyes slightly widen. That was an old word, too, so it must have been an older person to use it against Ellie. What was she even doing to elicit that kind of response? Quinn’s anger flared, debating on stomping back in to look for this bastard.

Clearly, Joel had the same idea, but Ellie grabbed his arm, stopping him.

“Joel, seriously,” Ellie huffs, to which Joel barely listens. “This is why I shouldn’t have told you.”

Joel stops and turns to Ellie, pointing an accusing finger vaguely in the direction of the pub. “That man disrespected you--"

“I think I can handle myself, Joel,” Ellie spits. She then articulates every next word: “Just. Drop. It.”

That seems to get through Joel. He mumbles about “teaching him respect,” but then pinches the bridge of his nose. “Just don’t get in any more trouble. I’m heading back to the house.”

“Yeah,” Ellie let out a breath, obviously relieved he listened. “Okay.”

Joel heads down the street, Ellie back toward Quinn, climbing up the steps and standing next to her, also leaning against the railing.

“He just doesn’t know when to quit,” Ellie huffs. Quinn assumes Ellie knew that she was definitely listening to their entire conversation.

“I think that was the first time that he did,” Quinn counters, and she lets out a small laugh.

“Yeah…”

More silence, more of Quinn staring at the moon, remembering someone telling her a story that people went up there once. People were able to feel the surface, walk along in whatever gravity it was, and pick up and bring back little pieces of the moon. It seemed so entirely impossible.

“I mean, why does he feel the need to intrude on every single aspect of my life?” Ellie questions, continuing the conversation as if it didn’t end a minute ago. Quinn thinks for a second, glancing at her out of the corner of her eye.

“I mean, he probably just feels protective of you,” she says slowly, careful with how she puts it. God forbid anyone mentions the word ‘Dad’ around Ellie and she absolutely freaks. “You guys have gone through a lot together, and have known each other quite well. He’s probably just not used to you being…on your own.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t ask for him to be like this,” she says, running her fingers through her hair, stray hairs sticking out and falling out of the now-loose bun.

“I mean, I don’t know,” Quinn starts, unsure of how Ellie is going to react, “I think it’s almost sweet. He cares about you a lot.”

Ellie huffs and turns to her, and Quinn can feel her stare piercing through her. Quinn avoids meeting Ellie's gaze, opting to stare at one of the roofs of the houses in the distance.

“Don’t you ever think he cares too much?”

Quinn shrugs, vaguely zoning out.

“I don’t really know what ‘normal’ is for a person.”

That statement hangs in the air for a second, and Quinn turns to look at Ellie. She’s staring at Quinn, eyebrows slightly furrowed. The moonlight casts a blueish shadow on her face, making Quinn slightly flustered because she just seemed strikingly beautiful. It’s the alcohol talking. She shakes her head and attempts to give a small smile.

“I don’t know. Who am I to say?” Quinn begins to scramble for something, a sliver of advice, maybe make Ellie less upset with her response. “I know he’s as stubborn as a mule but maybe try to tell him to relax. You’re getting older and so is he, and he has to just come to terms with that.” She feels her cheeks burn as Ellie continues staring at her and Quinn shrugs, breaking eye contact. “I don’t know.”

“No, yeah, you’re right,” Ellie says before groaning and turning back towards the street. “Life is just entirely too difficult.”

“Oh yes, it is,” Quinn concedes.