Chapter 5

A story about genetically programmed soul mates

When Quinn walked into her homeroom and saw that her mate was sitting there talking to her boyfriend, it enraged her. It made her even more angry that she wasn't mad she was talking to him, she was mad he was talking to her. She was…no. She would never be Quinn's. She had to remember that or she would get swallowed up in this mess. She had to deny it. She had to try to deny it at least.

It was almost an impossible task due to the PEA running through her veins. Quinn had learned about it in basic biology but last night, she decided to take some initiative and do some research. What she found was Phenylethylamine, otherwise known as the 'love drug'. When you first came in contact with your mate, a large burst of chemicals was shot into your system forming two initials on your skin. These weren't really just markings, they were glands that became an extension of your endocrine system. They formed to regulate your PEA secretion. However they function psychologically just as much as they did physically. If you could not accept your mate and let yourself bond your body would attack the chemicals. That's what caused the burning. 

Once you accepted your mate the PEA would regulate itself, putting a halt to the burning and beginning a number of things. First of all there was love. Love could only be felt after you accepted your mate. It also wasn't just an instant love. You had to work at it, let it grow.

You then fell in love.. This took time though, it took different lengths of time for different people. For some it only took a few weeks to complete. For others it took years. For Quinn it could never happen. She would never let the process complete itself.

But the most important step was the imprint. The actual physical bond the two mates had. Quinn had always been scared of it. Imprinting was just too scary for her, letting someone have that much control over her had never appealed to the blonde. 

Trying to stop the PEA from taking over your system was dangerous. It had proven to make both mates ill and sometimes even kill one or both mates. It could be stopped, but not without a great deal of suffering first. Quinn was prepared to suffer, she had been suffering her entire life, what was a little more misery? She only had two years left in this miserable place. She could get through it.

Quinn went to homeroom on her own because Brittany and Santana decided to have another make out session in the shower before class. She knew there was a chance they may not even show up at all which had made her anxious, she knew the brunette would be there again. She had to face her, there was no way to avoid her mate, she would just have to learn how to be around her.

Ten minutes later, Quinn was sitting in homeroom with two vacant desks beside her. She rolled her eyes and accepted her fate. Finn would be her only solace, and it was like her was going to be much help with the brunette since he had apparently already befriended her. When the brunette had not been in her seat when Quinn walked in the room, the blonde thought she was safe, but suddenly her wrist felt like it had been set on fire again. She held her wrist to her stomach trying to hide her pain. The blonde looked up to see the back of the brunette's head and glared at it, silently resenting the girl. When her teacher called her name for attendance she did her best to answer him with and even voice, but it wavered and she hoped no one noticed that either. No one seemed to notice the way she cradled her arm and she felt a bit of relief from that.

When the bell rang she ran out the door trying to get as far away from the brunette as possible. She ran all the way back to her locker and opened it, putting her head in the cool dark space trying to catch her breath. Not long after she heard her name being called. "Quinn!" She looked behind her to see Santana running after her. "Quinn..what the hell is wrong with you? Why are you freaking out?"

"She was in there. It started burning again. I couldn't take it anymore. And you two never showed up. I thought you had my back!" Quinn said still holding her wrist. It had stopped burning on the surface but she could still feel a faint pain deep beneath her skin.

"We do!" Santana reassured Quinn, "We just - got a bit caught up." The Latina looked at Brittany with a devious smirk, but when Quinn slapped her she quickly turned her attention back to Quinn. "We're sorry. It won't happen again." 

Quinn rolled her eyes knowing that it probably would, but accepted the apology anyway.

Santana turned just in time to see the tiny brunette walk out of the classroom and walk down the hallway in the opposite direction. Even with the hideous plaid skirt, penny loafers and knee highs, the girl was attractive, Santana couldn't deny that. "Oh…s**t. Quinn your mate is hot...it's gonna be hard trying to deny that huh," Santana joked. "Britt Britt and I can take care of her needs if you want.."

"Santana! No! Don't be crude." Quinn said glaring at the girl.

"No..I like that idea…" Brittany chimed in.

Quinn slammed her locker and walked away leaving the two girls behind her. "I'm going to class I'll see you later," she said over her shoulder. As much as Quinn loved her two best friends, sometimes, they were just too much for her to handle. 

XXX

When Quinn walked into the next class she made sure to check every desk to make sure she wouldn't run into her mate again. Luckily she didn't. Quinn sighed in relief and sat down at her regular desk. She felt so much more relaxed now that the burning had subsided.

After the third class of the day was mate-free Quinn was sure it would be smooth sailing. She had gotten through five classes and she was feeling great. Lunch was relaxing and she spoke to Santana and Brittany about the brunette for a while. They still wanted to take care of her mate until Quinn could claim her as her own but Quinn would never forgive herself if she agreed to that. It was immoral and just disgusting.

"Seriously, Quinn I think it's a great idea. She will be experienced and be able to take care of every desire you will ever have for the rest of your life. If it were me I would jump at the opportunity." Santana tried to reason with the blonde. Quinn grimaced at the thought of Santana and Brittany deflowering her mate.

"Thanks..but no thanks. I don't need her trained okay? Besides that's never going to happen. I can't be with her and that's final. I already told you my future is set in stone and I can't stray away from the path, my parents have made for me," Quinn said before she shoved a piece of lettuce into her mouth.

"Look, I think it's great that you have all of this ambition to be someone someday, but you have to realize that denying her could kill you..especially since you already have that s**t running through your system. That's dangerous stuff and you shouldn't mess with it. I'm not saying go running to Papa Russell and tell him that your fate is to be a carpet licker, but I am saying that you should consider at least talking to her. Tell her what's up." Quinn rolled her eyes at Santana, she didn't want to listen to her friend even though she knew Santana was right.

"Quinn…" Brittany said quietly.

"Yes, Brittany?"

"I think Santana is right. I think she said it a more forceful and demanding way than she needed to," Brittany said giving the Latina a jab in the ribs with her elbow, "but I do think you should talk to her. You can't do this forever. You're going to get very sick if you don't do something. I don't want you to be sick. Neither of us do and we know you don't either. Think of it this way. You're doing it for your future because without being healthy you will get nowhere."

Brittany had a good point. A very good point, and Quinn couldn't ignore the fact that if she was deathly ill for the next couple of years her career would be in jeopardy. "Okay, Britt. I guess I can give it a try."

Santana slammed her hand on the table, "D****t, Q! Why don't you ever listen to me?!"

Quinn chuckled at her friend's outburst. "Well for one...I like seeing you get worked up, and two...you are very demanding and crude. It makes me not want to listen to you."

Santana rolled her eyes and went back to eating her salad, "Whatever. I just tell it like it is. I'm not going to sugar coat it like Britt Britt."

Brittany frowned and Santana quickly took back her previous statement. "I love it when you sugar coat Britt. Just not for Q because she is a stubborn a*s." Santana gave Quinn a glare before turning back to Brittany with a sweet smile, "You can sugar coat for me all you want, babe." Brittany smiled brightly and kissed Santana on the cheek. Quinn smiled at her two best friends. Two of the strongest girls she knew, and the cutest couple she had ever seen.

Lunch had gone by far too quickly but for the rest of the day Quinn had remained mate free. When the last bell rang she was relieved. She felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders. All she had to do was get through glee club and then she could go home. Not that home was any better than the searing pains she felt in her wrist, but at least she wouldn't have to worry about any progression of the imprint.

Finn met her at her locker and they walked to glee club hand in hand. The rest of the club was already there, seated in the chairs on the risers. She took her seat at the front of the room and Finn draped his arm over her shoulders. As she waited for glee to start she felt her wrist beginning to tingle again, though there was no sign of the brunette, maybe she was just close by, Quinn reasoned with herself.

As much at Quinn didn't love Finn, he did make her feel comfortable. He made her feel safe. He was a good boyfriend and he took care of her. She knew that as long as she was with him nothing bad would ever happen to her and she didn't want to give that up. She didn't want to go back to how it was before. She didn't want the cigar burns and the bruised ribs her father loved to give her. She enjoyed having her father's approval. She felt loved, like she was a part of the family again.

Mr. Shue, the glee club director, walked in a few minutes after she had arrived. He clapped his hands together and began to speak. "Okay class. Today we have a new member. I am pleased to introduce you to, Rachel Berry!" Mr. Shue stood aside to reveal the small brunette.

When Quinn saw the girl standing in the middle of the room she nearly lost it as her wrist set on fire once again. Rachel Berry was her mate. She finally had a name and she hated it. She hated every syllable of that name. She balled up her fists in an attempt contain her anger, but she couldn't, "You have got to be kidding me…she is not joining glee club." Quinn growled.

Santana put her hand on Quinn's thigh to try and calm her but the blonde didn't even notice. "Quinn, the glee club accepts anyone who auditions. We can't turn her away. She has a great voice, she could really help us get to nationals this year." Mr. Shue tried to reason with the blonde.

Quinn glared at Mr. Shue, of course he would find Rachel, of course she would invade every part of her life. "Fine." 

Quinn leaned back in her chair letting Finn wrap his arm around her defensively. She leaned into his side, hoping that she would feel better, but she didn't. She felt helpless and alone, but most of all she felt cheated. She felt like her life had been stolen from her the moment Rachel Berry set foot in Lima, Ohio.

Author's Note

I still do not own glee or its characters and I'm sorry for subjecting you to them. I just can't bring myself to change the names.