Something - Quinn Fabray

Chapter 92

"Are you okay?" Shelby checked as she shut down the car in the McKinley parking lot, glancing at Ryan. "I don't mind if you want to take the day off."

Ryan shook his head, unbuckling his seatbelt. "I'm okay." It was the Monday morning after Quinn had gotten out of the hospital. Ryan had been released from the hospital far earlier than her of course, and he'd started attending school about a week after that, but he still had occasional headaches courtesy of his concussion. He'd had a rather painful bout last night, and he understood his mom was concerned. But it was Quinn's first day back, and he wanted to be there for her.

"If you're sure," Shelby conceded as they got out. "I have your painkillers, okay? So if you have any problems, you can go to the school nurse or you can come to my office."

"Got it." Ryan smiled slightly as Shelby gave him a hug. "Thanks."

She patted him on the cheek before they went their separate ways. Ryan meandered towards his locker, stowing his books and other items inside. Quinn would be here soon, Judy would be bringing her. Sure enough, Ryan spotted her coming down the hall towards him.

He suddenly flashed back to freshman year, a time when Quinn had the power to part the students in the hall like Moses and the Red Sea just by showing up. She'd lost that power during her pregnancy before regaining some of it afterwards, but it was back in full force now. Students parted left and right to let her through.

It was for the wrong reason though.

Whispers erupted in Quinn's wake as she maneuvered her wheelchair past them. Lima had very little excitement overall, and the sight of Quinn Fabray in a wheelchair was big. Ryan ignored the whispers though, too focused on his sinking feelings at the sight of his girlfriend.

It was different from seeing her in the hospital. Here, in the middle of all the other kids, her injury was even more obvious. He'd thought he'd readied himself, but seeing her here in the ocean of students the way she was now... Then she laid eyes on him, a small smile coming to her face, and he shook himself mentally. He couldn't let her see how this was affecting him, he didn't want to make it any harder on her. He needed to help her remain optimistic.

They had talked last night, and she had told him that she didn't want her injury to color how people saw her. She was still Quinn Fabray after all. She was going to go into McKinley, head held high.

So he put on a smile, moving forward to greet her. "Morning Quinn."

"Hi," she said softly as he bent down to kiss her.

"Did you and Judy get here alright?"

She nodded as she wheeled herself forward. "Yeah, it was okay." He resisted the urge to push the chair, remembering the hospital where she'd been determined to assert her independence. "You?"

"I got a ride with my mom." They arrived at her locker, and Quinn reached up to enter her combination for her upper row door. "Do you want -"

"I've got it." She managed to get the door open, biting her lip before looking at him. "Can you get my books?" she asked evenly, nodding at the textbooks which were just out of her reach. Ryan nodded, easily taking them and handing them to the blonde.

She started to twist her upper body around to get her backpack, and Ryan moved forward in alarm. "Here, I'll get that," he said anxiously. "I don't want you to hurt yourself."

"Ryan..."

"I mean, should you really be moving like that?" he fretted. "What if you exacerbate the injury to your spine? You could end up worsening the damage, or -"