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> quinn: the return

[conclusion]

[To say there are a few things Matt regrets in his life? A big lie.

There are too many to count, and not enough chances to go back and fix them. Maybe this is his attempt at the fixing part, however late it is. (Maybe it's too late.) He's anxious the whole trip there. With the way things went the last time he was here, he wasn't too sure how to approach the situation. He doesn't want to turn around and cut his losses, try again somewhere else. It's not a 'maybe this is stupid' situation, it is and he almost expects to be captured as soon as his plane touches ground on the tarmac.

He took a plane, for God's sake. Is he trying to do this as normal as he can, or is he looking for a reason to commit?

It's about forty minutes from the airport by car, and fifteen if he wants to... fly, there. Matt decides to spring the extra fifteen for the cab and records the whole ride. The driver asks him what brings him to town and dumbly, Matt says "A girl." Luckily, the driver laughs at him and says that everyone gets to that point, eventually. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Matt laughs along with him, quietly. "Sure, man."

(There had been an accident, something where an ambulance wouldn't get there in time, where the car was going to crush someone and Quinn, well. They were there at the wrong time, wrong place. Matt had told himself he'd keep his head down, not interfere because that brought people to town, that had them asking questions, but Quinn-

Something had to be done, and Matt wishes that he'd said something not as dumb as "this is gonna look bad, but-" before he'd pushed that car off of the passenger. With his mind. Left in a hurry as soon as they'd checked over them, he'd taken Quinn home and didn't wait for the questions, just saw the look of shock on her face. She looked horrified, if he could say anything. But for some reason, she hadn't told anyone.)

At least, that's what he told himself, when no one followed him to the next town over. Or the next one, or the next one, even if it was an ocean away. So why was he back here?

Because he wanted an answer, even if he hadn't been willing back then to give one to Quinn. The only thing he could do was hope that she hadn't moved away, hadn't changed her number. If she did though, that'd take one worry off his mind. And maybe that was for the better. That they left things the way they had, or rather, the way Matt had forced it to end. Still, his thumbs slide over the screen and he pulls up that number on the new phone he'd picked up. Saved the number, for some reason.]

u in town?




it's matt garetty.

i can't remember what canon point i had her at before so...

[ambitious]

[ asking if quinn is still around is almost a trick question. she's still in school, of course. no freakish demonstration of...what? strength? skill? is going to change that. she's worked too hard and for far too long to get to a place where she can be proud of herself. she's no longer in the dorms though, instead electing to rent an apartment off campus. one that she shares with two other girls. it isn't ideal, but anything is preferable to dorm life.

classes this year are harder, but she manages to keep her grades up, no matter how many parties her roommates drag her too. they never asked questions when matt pulled his magical disappearing act, which meant quinn never actually had to lie about what happened. of course, it also meant them shoving her full force back into the dating scene, ready or not.

there are a handful of guys during his extended absence. some never make it past date one. others she attempts to make work. a process easier said than done when he's still on her mind.

she's on her way to psych class when her phone dings, the messages stopping her in place in the middle of the sidewalk. despite his identifying himself, she has to read the two brief messages repeatedly before it makes any sense in her mind. matt. matt. the stupid, charming boy she'd liked so much. the boy who, it had turned out, she barely knew. who took off with barely a goodbye, never responding to her calls or text messages until she finally gave up. deleted his number from her phone and called him a lost cause.

it takes some time before she's able to respond, making her way first to one of the benches that line the walkways. already she's late for class, but it's not like she'd be able to focus anyway. ]

if this is a joke, it's really not funny.
matt garetty is long gone.

it'll be a surprise for both of us because I only know glee by living through you asdfk

[conclusion]

[They'd gotten so far together, got closer than Matt ever thought he'd get to someone else since Casey. Then again, he hadn't even believed that he would have stayed in this town as long as he had. Was it because he'd yearned for the sense of being normal again, of having the chance to go to college, like he'd wanted? He'd traveled the world, seen so many people and of all the places, this had been where he'd taken root, wanted to settle down in. Was it because of Quinn?

The idea of risking everything for someone was - it wasn't a sound idea, to be honest. It was selfish, stupid, and yet that's what he felt he was doing. If tomorrow wasn't supposed to come because of the decisions he was making today, he at least wanted to know that he'd tried. Living was hard and dying was easy, wasn't that what people said? (The spear, lodged inbetween Andrew's ribs, the life leaving his eyes. Folks who'd been hurt by their fight, bleeding out, crying. It was a struggle to stay alive and then nothing. Dying definitely seemed easier.)

His nose scrunches up at the reply because as much he expected it, it brings up what he decided to do, and what led to this point. Ruined what could have been. Brought it to this. Never met someone who stuck on him as much as Quinn had, after everything. His nails drum along the screen for a nervous second, before he straightens himself up,
then steps back to take a picture of his surroundings. He attaches it to the message, like that'll help.]

just got back.
i get if u don't wanna see me or talk

but i'll be around the campus bar if you've got time.

♥♥♥

[ambitious]

[ it's him. really and truly. the picture comes like a punch to the gut.

this is exactly what quinn has been waiting for ever since he left. contact. confirmation that he's alright. an opportunity to talk to him again and find out what the hell happened. not just that night, but between them. there have been boyfriends in the past, plenty of them. even boys she'd seen some kind of future with, before she inevitably went on to screw it up in one way or another. she's a moderately talented singer, and a decent enough actress, but her one true skill has always been in ruining relationships.

matt, she had been certain, was going to be the exception. smart enough, sweet enough, goofy enough to slip past her defenses. until everything blew up in her face and he pulled his disappearing act.

so, while months ago she would have leapt at the opportunity to see him again, now all she wants to do is tell him to go screw himself. jaw straining, she taps out a fierce reply, the second message following quickly after the first. ]

you're an asshole.

give me one good reason i should even bother.

[conclusion]

[He's tired, hasn't slept for maybe a day or two. Too busy going through all the scenarios that could happen from this. The government could find out and be waiting for him by the time he got to the bar, ready to take him away in chains, or in a body bag. Quinn could be waiting there for him just to say her piece and leave, or she could not show up at all. The worst situation felt like the last one, considering he'd come here just to see her. If anything was fixed, it worked out. If it wasn't? Like he said? He had tried.

It takes him longer than it should to read the text; he rubs at his eyes just to make sure he's reading it right, that he's not misconstruing something in his exhaustion.
The reply is on his tongue, on the tips of his fingers and he wants to come out as easily as her anger but he can't. He can't defend himself, not like this.]

i'll tell u everything i can [Is that too much? It's the truth, but he sends a second one just to be safe.]

i'm the biggest asshole in the world and i could type a million things but i can't
u deserve a proper explanation and that's all i have

[ambitious]

[ while she can't, at least to herself, deny that she wants to see him again, it's the promise of an explanation that really settles things for her. they've never really agreed on most things, quinn always taking herself a little too seriously, but on this at least, they seem to be on the same page. ]

i'll be there soon.
don't do anything stupid.

[ a standard warning, even before he turned into the invisible man.

swinging back by the apartment long enough to drop off her books --there are two more classes after psych, and quinn has a suspicion she won't be making it to any of them-- it takes maybe thirty minutes total for quinn to show up at the bar.

the scent of beer and stale popcorn from the machine in the back corner weighs heavily in the air, and she has to blink several times before her eyes start to adjust to the dim lighting. before she can find him. ]

one month later I feel like a tv show hiatus

[conclusion]

scout's honor to do my best

[You say what you need to, and then you leave. Simple as that, right? Right. Matt needs to work himself up to even start heading towards the bar and that takes ten minutes. Some of the kids that walk by probably think he's weird if they don't believe he's waiting for someone. Eventually, he starts walking and when he crosses that threshold inside, it feels like nothing's changed.

The weight of their situation hits him again soon enough, however, and he makes his way to one of the tables along the wall. Away from most of the study groups and friends catching up, enough for him to say what he needs to without it having to be too much. He drums his fingers on the table top, orders some fries and a beer, although he doesn't touch either. His stomach's already in knots and he's not sure how he'd take that.

It doesn't take long for him to see her when she comes in. He almost wants to bail again at it, but he doesn't. Matt sits here, coughs to clear his throat, then he waves her down.] -Quinn!