Friday night Quinn found herself alone at home, nothing out of the usual. She stared at some polaroids, two laid out in front of her. One was of Brandon, the other was of Agent Cortez. She stared at them for a long time before putting them away by sticking them into a black box with a sigh, tucking a red sharpie away in her pocket.

A knock on the front door drew her attention.

She hopped off her bed quickly hid the black box back under the carpet before walking to the door. A second knock came just as she opened it.

“We are here to return your stuff.” An officer said.

Then several officers walked in and set multiple boxes down.

“No Cortez?” Quinn gave a cocky smirk at the officer.

“She couldn’t make it.” He sighed.

“I’ll bet.” Quinn chuckled and watched in satisfaction as the police returned her stuff.

Once Quinn signed the papers saying she got everything back, the officers were gone. Quinn chuckled to herself before unpacking everything and putting it all back where it belonged. Starting with the candle taken from the bunker. Ending with her camera as she carried it back to her room and hopped on her bed.

Saturday morning came before Stratus knew it and she groaned as her phone rang early in the morning. She rolled over in bed and picked up her phone, glaring at Quinn’s picture.

“What?” Stratus groaned as she answered.

“Good morning to you too. You need to get up, we have costumes to shop for. Hurry up, I’ll be there in a few.” Quinn hung up.

“Ugh!” Stratus pulled the blankets over her head.

A ding came from her phone, she looked at the text.

‘I’m serious.’ Quinn texted.

“Ugh!” she sat up.

In less than 20 minutes Quinn was at her house. She seemed to be beaming. Stratus stared at her through grouchiness and grumbled as she got ready, slowly picking out an outfit to wear.

“So the police returned my stuff to me,” Quinn said.

“That’s good.” Stratus yawned.

“Yep.”

Stratus set an outfit out and turned to Quinn expectantly. Quinn got up but instead of leaving she walked over to Stratus. Stratus gave her a confused look before Quinn leaned into to kiss her. Stratus jerked back.

“What are you doing?” She felt her cheeks light up.

“What? I think you look cute when you are grumpy.” Quinn leaned in again.

Their lips met for a brief instance before Stratus jerked away again. Quinn narrowed her eyes, getting frustrated.

“I, I don’t think we should, you know, be doing this stuff. I’m not sure how I feel about it yet.” Stratus took a step back.

“Come on, it’s just us. Just me. What’s not to like?” Quinn tried again.

Stratus put her hand in the way so Quinn kissed her hand. That didn’t stop Quinn, she grabbed Stratus hand and kissed it properly, before peppering kisses up her arm all the way to her neck. Stratus shuddered under her touch.

“Quinn, I, I don’t---” Quinn cut her off with a kiss.

Stratus didn’t fight it anymore. She leaned into the kiss. Quinn wrapped her arms around Stratus’s waist and pulled her in closer. A ticklish sensation overtook Stratus as Quinn’s fingers slowly moved up the back of her shirt. Her hands were ice cold, but it felt amazing to Stratus’s hot skin.

They broke apart for a moment as they gasped for air before Quinn smashed their lips together again. Stratus ran her hands through Quinn’s hair, causing Quinn to moan into her mouth. The bedroom door opening caused them to spring apart.

It was the other three girls.

“Well okay then, I didn’t expect to see that,” Harley said.

“That wasn’t what it looked like.” Stratus quickly denied.

“We didn’t say anything.” Neveah pointed out.

“It was exactly what it looked like.” Quinn turned to Stratus with a frown.

“No it wasn’t, I don’t like you like that.”

“Are you kidding me right now?” Quinn said in disbelief, her anger rising.

“I told you I didn’t want to!” Stratus shot back.

“Really because your actions say something way different!”

The three girls glanced back and forth between the two, watching the argument unfold.

“You practically forced yourself on me!”

“Did not! Just admit it! It’s not that hard.”

“There is nothing to admit! That didn’t mean anything to me.” Stratus crossed her arms.

“Fine, be that way.” Quinn stormed out of the room.

“Awkward.” Izzy rocked back and forth on her feet.

“I’ll go talk to her.” Harley ran after her.

“You okay?” Neveah asked Stratus.

“I don’t know! I’m confused!”

“I know the feeling.” Neveah sighed.

“Stratus it’s okay if you like Quinn,” Izzy reassured her.

“You don’t have to hide who you are,” Neveah added.

“I don’t even know who I am! I’m so confused. I just need space and time to figure it out. But she keeps attacking me! Forcing herself on me.”

“Well, she really likes you.” Izzy supplied.

“I think that’s just Quinn. Between you and me, I don’t think Quinn knows how to properly show her affection. She hasn’t really had anyone to teach her. Everyone in her family died just as she hit puberty. I guess she thinks this is okay.” Neveah said.

“Well, it’s not.” Stratus ran a hand down her face.

“Then you need to be clear with her, tell her straight up.”

“Yeah, but be gentle.” Izzy agreed.

Stratus sighed, grabbing her clothes and going to the restroom to change.

Downstairs Harley held Quinn in place, preventing her from leaving.

“Let me go.” Quinn snapped at her.

“No can do. One we all have to go costume shopping together. Two it’s not good to drive when your angry, studies show you are more likely to get in an accident. Don’t ask me how I know this. Three, you and Stratus need to work this out once and for all. If not for your sanity for ours, watching you guys hot and cold relationship gives me whiplash.”

“There is nothing to work out, she made that very clear.” Quinn held back her tears.

Harley was taken aback. In all her time since she’s known Quinn not once did she ever see her anywhere near tears. Never.

“Hey, it’s okay. There are other fish in the sea.” Harley moved in closer and consoled her.

“I don’t want other fish.” Quinn had to turn away from Harley to hide her tears that threatened to spill over. She hated feeling and looking weak in front of other people.

“Quinn look at me. It’s okay. Stratus is just confused. She’ll come around.”

“Whatever, I’m over it,” Quinn said coldly, wiping any tears that threatened to fall.

When she turned back to Harley her face was a cold mask. No emotions peaking through. Harley frowned.

“It’s okay if you’re not,” Harley assured her.

“I am. I don’t care anymore. She doesn’t want to be with me then fine. I can be with whoever I want, I don’t need her.” She shrugged as if it was no big deal.

“Quinn it’s okay to hurt.” Harley put a hand on her shoulder.

“I’m fine.” Quinn narrowed her eyes before pulling away from the friendly touch and walking into the kitchen.

Stratus and the other girls quickly joined them. Harley looked at them and gave a look that said, she is definitely not okay. Stratus took a deep breath before approaching Quinn. Quinn looked to her with a cold indifferent look. Not a hint that she might be upset.

The other girls shared looks of unease but remained silent.

“Quinn.” Stratus started.

“Yes?” Quinn leaned against the counter.

“Look, I’m sorry for freaking out. I just. I need space. I know you like me, but I---”

“I don’t.” Quinn cut her off. “I don’t like you. Not anymore. I’m over it. So let’s just drop the whole thing.” She shrugged before grabbing her keys and walking to the door.

“Ouch,” Harley muttered.

Stratus felt a pang in her heart but ignored it. She knew Quinn was just being stubborn.

“You guys coming?” Quinn called over her shoulder as she walked outside to her car.

“That was cruel,” Neveah grumbled.

“Whatever, let’s just drop it.” Stratus sighed before following after Quinn.

The girls made their way to several costume shops picking up everything they needed. It was tense the whole time being as neither Stratus nor Quinn said much. Afterward, they arrived at Quinn’s house where Brandon joined the group.

“Hey, get a costume?” Quinn asked him.

“Yeah, I found one.” He held up his bag for emphasis.

“Great, come on in.” Quinn smiled at him before opening the door and letting everyone in.

“Uh, hi. I’m Brandon.” He said awkwardly to the other girls.

“Hi, nice to finally meet you. I’m Izzy.”

“Harley.”

“Neveah.”

“Stratus.”

They all introduced themselves even though it was pretty pointless being as each of them knew of the other already.

“So where’s Adam?” Quinn asked.

“Oh, he said he will meet us there.”

“Lame.” Quinn rolled her eyes.

“So we still have a lot of time before the party.” He awkwardly said.

“Do you know how long it takes us, girls, to get dressed?” Neveah asked.

“No.”

“A long time.” Harley finished.

“Not to mention I got to paint myself green.” Quinn wiggled her eyebrows, showing Brandon the green paint.

“You really gonna do that?” He asked.

“Well duh, go big or go home.” Quinn grabbed him by the hand and pulled him closer to her.

The other girls stood there awkwardly, trying to pretend they were not in a weird situation as the dead girl's brother, and her suspected killer made small talk.

“You are getting painted too. Your face at least.” She smirked at him.

“I, I don’t know. Won’t people stare?”

“They will be staring anyways, let’s give them something to look at.” She teased.

He forced a smile for her.

“Now, let’s get to work.” Quinn put her boom box on and laid all the supplies out.

Each girl got to work on their costume.

Brandon sat and watched as Quinn pulled out her sewing machine and fixed up her costume a bit, adding a few things to make it look more legit rather than a cheap costume she found at the store. After Quinn worked on her own costume she got to work on Stratus’s and Neveah’s, then they took a break being as the other girls worked on accessories, with the help of Brandon, and ate lunch. Quinn had ordered take out. After that Quinn got to work on Izzy’s and Harley’s costume before finally turning her attention to Brandon.

“Alright let me see it.” She ordered.

He took the lion suit out of the bag.

“How did you find that?” Izzy asked.

“I uh, found a place that sells furry stuff,” he blushed.

Quinn snorted in amusement. Then she reinforced some of the stitching and fluffed up the mane. After that, they got to body painting. Neveah had the most being as she had to paint almost her whole body silver. Harley, Izzy, and Stratus helped her with that as Quinn got to work on Brandon’s face.

“Do you absolutely need your glasses?” Quinn asked him.

“Well yeah, I’m sort of almost blind.” He frowned at her.

“How blind?”

“Like so blind that I can only see something if it’s right in front of me.”

“Perfect, then you don’t need them.” She took them off.

“Were you always this pushy with Alice?” He complained.

“Yes.” She smiled, getting work on his face, first wiping it clean with a damp towel.

“What did you like most about her?” he asked as Quinn pulled his shaggy hair out of the way with a headband.

“Hmm, that’s a tough one. I’d say it’s a tie between her carefree spirit, and her bubbly personality. Maybe a mixture between the two.” She grabbed some concealer and began to cover his face.

“How come you two never made it official?” he asked.

Quinn shot him a warning look, telling him he was pushing it and going too far. A look that warned him to keep quiet. His eyes glanced behind Quinn to the other girls who were pretending not to eavesdrop. Though they made it obvious.

“Alice and I had an understanding, and that’s all you need to know about that.” She moved to grab a paint brush.

“Yeah, but if you loved her like she loved you, I don’t get it.”

Quinn slammed her hand down on the table, not even bothering to hide the look she was giving Brandon. Her lips pushed tightly together and her eyes narrowed at him. Her nostrils flared and her jaw clenched.

“Drop the subject,” she growled at him.

“Did you even love her at all?” he didn’t stop.

“What’s he talking about?” Stratus asked just as the tape ran out and the music stopped.

“They don’t know?” Brandon looked to Quinn.

“Don’t know what?” Neveah pushed.

“What happened between me and Alice was our business, not yours, not theirs. Stop bringing it up.” Quinn snapped at him.

“I heard you tell her once that you loved her. If you really loved her why aren’t you sad? You act like you don’t even care that’s she’s gone!” he stood up.

Quinn grabbed him by his shirt and slammed him into the wall.

“Quinn stop it!” Izzy shouted.

“You think I don’t care? You think it means nothing to me!? You have no idea what she meant to me! You don’t know how much pain I am in on the inside. You don’t know how insulted I felt when the cops thought it was me who did it. She was the only one who truly understood me and now she’s gone.” Quinn’s eyes watered as she glared coldly at Brandon.

“I, I didn’t know.” He stuttered.

“Just because I can’t cry doesn’t mean I’m not hurting. She wouldn’t want me to be all sad and mopey, and she wouldn’t want you like that either. We have to keep living but because that’s what she would want. She wouldn’t want us to drop everything. You of all people should know that.”

“I’m sorry.” His whimpered.

Quinn sighed and let him go. She took a deep calming breath before running a hand through her hair and sitting back down. She patted the seat in front of her, indicating for Brandon to sit back down.

He did.

“We are going to go to this party, and you are going to have a great time. No more what if and how comes. Just enjoy life for a change.” She said to him.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I just—”

“You don’t have to explain Brandon, trust me when I say, I know.” She forced a smile for him.

He nodded and swallowed down his tears.

Quinn went back to painting his face.

“Quinn, can I talk to you for a moment?” Stratus asked.

“Whatever you have to say, just say it.” She snapped.

“You said you weren’t that close to Alice, that you were just friends with similar interest,” Stratus said.

“Yeah, I lied.” Quinn rolled her eyes.

“Why?” Neveah pushed.

“Because it was none of your business.”

“Do the cops know?” Izzy asked.

“Yes, they are very aware, hence the search warrant.” Quinn didn’t look at them she just painted his face.

“So then what really happened the last time you saw her?” Stratus asked.

Quinn sighed and turned to them.

They stared expectantly at her.

“Since you all won’t shut up about it, fine, I’ll tell you. We were making out, things got heated. I wanted to keep going but she didn’t. I tried to coax her into it but it didn’t work. Things got awkward and after we talked it out I left. I told her I would give her the weekend to think about what I said. Little did I know, that would be the last time I saw her.”

“What did you say?”

“I told her I was ready to take things to the next step. That I wanted us to be official. That I wanted to tell you guys. She said she had to think about it, that it was going too fast.”

The room was silent.

“So now you know. Thank you for reminding me of what an asshole I am.” Quinn said bitterly turning back to Brandon.

“You could have told us,” Harley assured her.

“Please just drop the subject.” Quinn clipped her words.

The girls sighed before Neveah flipped the tape and resumed the music.