Quinn Fabray: My Story

Chapter 67 - Christmases When You Were Mine

Finals went according to plan, I passed with straight A's for my first semester at Yale which was something I was proud of. It felt good to be back home in Lima for the next few weeks, especially since it was by far my favorite time of year, Christmastime.

My phone went off as I got a message from Brittany.

Brittany: Quinn! Are you still in Lima?

Me: Yes why?
Brittany: Good! I'm glad I don't have to mail your present.

Me: My present?
Brittany: The Mayan Apocalypse is going to happen December 20th. The world is going to end! I wanted to make sure I get your present to you before then

Me: Brittany, you know the world isn't actually going to end right?
Brittany: It is! I saw it on the history channel which shows real actors showcasing real events

I shook my head. Only Brittany would watch the History Channel about the Mayan Apocalypse. I looked back down at my phone to see Brittany had messaged me once again.

Brittany: I'll come over after school :)

"Great," I said to myself wondering what in the world Brittany had talked herself into.

Brittany had arrived at my house after school. "Okay so Quinn, I wanted to get you something special for Christmas," Brittany grinned as she handed me a gift. "What's this?" I asked her as I then opened it to find that she had given me one of those baby dolls. "So I looked online to see where I could get you a baby since you told me they don't come from storks. I know you missed your chance to take care of Beth so that's why I got you this baby. I don't know if she has a name. I think it's called a RealCare Baby or something like that," Brittany grinned as I couldn't help but be speechless. Brittany truly thought she was doing something nice for me for Christmas. "Brittany, I don't know what to say," I said completely at a loss for words. "You're welcome," Brittany grinned as the baby started to cry. "I think she needs something. Good luck," Brittany grinned as she left my house.

"There's got to be an off switch," I said as I searched the doll to find no such thing. The doll started wailing. "Great gift...thanks Britt," I said to myself as I tried to take care of the baby by doing the usual things, giving it a bottle, changing its diaper, and of course burping it after the bottle. "What in the world?" my mom laughed seeing me carrying the baby doll. "It's Brittany's gift to me....don't ask," I chuckled a bit. "Oh I remember these dolls they had them when Frannie was in high school," my mom said. "Do you know how to turn it off?" I asked in hopeful tone as my mom nodded. She messed with a few things on the back and soon the doll was quiet. "Thanks," I said. "No problem," my mom chuckled a bit.

Frannie, Christian, and Evan arrived shortly after the whole baby doll debacle. "Merry Christmas," Frannie smiled as she hugged me tight. "Merry Christmas. It's good to see you all," I smiled a bit. "You too Quinn, how's Yale been?" Christian asked. "It's going great. I got straight A's my first semester. I'm looking forward to the spring semester especially since I got approved for the job at the local paper I applied for," I smiled. "Quinnie that's amazing," my mom grinned. "It sure is," Frannie agreed. "Thanks," I smiled as we sat down for our first dinner together.

It was nice having Frannie back in town and everything but seeing how happy she was with her life, how she had someone to share it with almost made me feel empty. I thought of Puck. I wondered how he was spending the holidays out in LA. Who knew what 'celebrities' he was chasing after now. Especially since I set him free. I closed my eyes and pictured myself singing a Christmas song that truly showed how I felt, 'Christmases When You Were Mine' by Taylor Swift.

"Please take down the mistletoe 'cause I don't wanna think about that right now 'cause everything I want is miles away. Snow covered little town my momma's in the kitchen, worrying about me. Season's greetings, hope you're well. Well I'm doing alright if you were wondering, lately I can never tell. I know this shouldn't be a lonely time but there were Christmases when you were mine. I've been doing fine without you, really up until the nights got cold and everybody's here, except you, baby. Seems like everyone's got someone to hold but for me it's just a lonely time 'cause there were Christmases when you were mine. 'Merry Christmas everybody'. That'll have to be something I just say this year. I'll bet you got your mom another sweater and were your cousins late again. When you were putting up the lights this year did you notice one less pair of hands. I know this shouldn't be a lonely time but there were Christmases when I didn't wonder how you are tonight 'cause there were Christmases when you were mine. You were mine," I sang in my head as I pictured myself singing it around Lima with Puck far off in LA.

Christmas day instead of having our usual big dinner at home my mom had booked us a table at Breadstix. "Why aren't we having the usual big celebration?" I asked her confused. "Well, I thought we should do something different this year. I mean you're hardly ever in town Quinnie. This is the best restaurant here," my mom said. "It is. Gosh I haven't been here since high school," Frannie said shaking her head as she put Evan in his high chair.

Much to my surprise someone caught my eye. Puck. What was he doing here? I didn't know what to do when I saw him. There was a part of me that just wanted to rush over to him ask why he was here. The other part of me wanted nothing to do with him anymore. I didn't know which side of me was going to win.

"Excuse me," I said quietly as my family seemed to be too caught up in their conversations to notice I was walking away. As I was walking away I accidently hit into someone. "Watch your step little lady," I heard a familiar voice say in an impression of a Southern accent. I turned around to see Sam standing there. I hugged him. "It's good to see you," I smiled. "You too. I thought you went back to New Haven," he said confused. "I did. I'm just back during the break between semesters," I chuckled a bit. "Cool," he smiled a bit as Brittany joined him. "Quinn I know this is awkward but can I get the present I bought you back? I thought the world was going to end but since it's not I need to get back all the money I spent," Brittany frowned a bit as I couldn't help but smile. "Sure Brittany. What are you doing here?" I asked. "Sam and I are on a date. Well the first date since we found out we're not really married," Brittany said. "Wait...you two are dating?" I asked confused. "Totally. Sam's always making me laugh and he's the only person who cared enough about me when I was breaking down and wanted to stage a comeback," Brittany said. "Well...congrats," I said still unsure of how to feel about their relationship. "Thanks Quinn, we'll be sure to invite you to our next wedding," Sam said as he walked off with Brittany.

"How did that....you know what. I'm not even going to ask," I said as I turned to go back to my table when I was stopped once again. "Quinn?" Puck called as I turned around. "Hi," I said as I approached him. "Hi...I didn't expect to see you back here," Puck said. "That makes two of us," I said. Puck sighed a bit "Look, the reason I'm back here is my life in LA wasn't exactly as great as I portrayed it. Yeah there were a lot more pools to clean there but I lost pretty much everything that meant something to me while I was there...including you," he told me seriously. "That's sweet," I said. "But?" Puck said. "But I just don't know about us. I care about you, I really do but things have never worked out between us," I said. "I think we can make it work this time..." Puck began as I shook my head. "You only want me when I'm here. When I'm away I know you're going to go right back to any other girl who flirts with you. Let's face it. We're not meant to last. We had our chance. It's over," I told him. "Fine," Puck said "You can break up with me for now but the next time I see you, I promise you I'm going to only have eyes for you." I sighed "I know you think you mean it but trust me. You don't want me," I told him seriously as I began to walk off "Goodbye Puck."

Christmas this year didn't exactly end the way I'd hoped but with a New Year ahead I could only hope to leave my past behind and start my future in 2013.