Title: At the Bottom of Everything (1/?)
Author: CartoonFullMoon
Pairing: Rachel/Quinn
Rating: PG-13
Length: 2000~
Spoilers: Some early season 2 spoilers
Disclaimer: I'm merely borrowing these characters for now :)
Summary: One chaotic morning leads Rachel to realise that maybe Quinn Fabray isn't coping as well as she pretends to.

Rachel Berry was furious. Slamming the car door shut behind her, Rachel executed what could only be described as her signature 'Diva tantrum'.

While the name had been contrived and embraced in Glee club – credit to one Kurt Hummel – Leroy Berry secretly thought that it had never seemed a more appropriate title for his daughter's dramatic mood swings.

"See you later, Sweetie" Leroy called out, failing to keep the amusement out of his voice.

Turning around to give her father one last glare, Rachel continued towards the front of the school, stomping her feet as she walked.

Her morning had started out as as it usually did. She had eaten a healthy vegan breakfast, printed out the well rehearsed Broadway sheet music she intended to perform in the scheduled Glee club meeting that day, and had dressed in what she would call an unparalleled outfit choice (as well as packing a spare set of clothes in case her unique style fell victim to yet another slushy attack).

She had been completing her routine morning vocal warm up when her fathers had rushed her out of the house. Apparently she was being inconsiderate of the neighbours' feelings, and her elliptical trainer wasn't an appropriate place to be practicing 'On my Own' at 6am.

The full scale Berry family argument that ensued had meant her leaving for school far too early, and in all the chaos she had forgotten to pick up her Glee sheet music. This meant either another hour of Mr Schuester's over enthusiastic rapping or being forced to use her well trained, diverse vocal range on a 80s monotonic rock ballad.

'Brilliant' Rachel thought sarcastically. 'Just what the club needs after losing at Regionals, more of Mr Schue's rapping to distract us.'

Honestly, Rachel wondered sometimes why Mr Schue was so surprised at their loss. 'If he could structure a lesson properly and take more time in preparing my solo, maybe we'd be a more successful club'.

Sighing into the cold Ohio air, she let out her frustration over the whole situation. Trying to look on the bright side of things, Rachel figured she could at least practice in the auditorium before first period began. The worry of being slushied this early in the day was also eliminated with nobody around.

With a renewed sense of optimism and a slight spring in her step Rachel headed towards the entrance of the school.

However, a familiar small car momentarily distracted her. It was parked directly in front of the school entrance, alone in the large car park, in the spaces specifically reserved for Cheerios.

It was Quinn's car.

'Why is Quinn here so early?'

Rachel racked her brain, wondering if Coach Sylvester had scheduled an early Cheerio's practice this morning. But she didn't remember hearing it mentioned by either Santana or Brittany, and no other Cheerio's had arrived yet. Her curiosity rose.

Rachel hadn't been surprised last week when she had watched a cheerleader uniform clad Quinn glide past her. But she had been disappointed.

She knew Quinn loved being in Glee, but with that uniform came the temptation of popularity. Something which Glee obviously couldn't offer.

The uniform seemed to give Quinn a sense of fearlessness and confidence. It oozed out of the renewed head Cheerio, and had heads turning to stare after her in awe.

It was almost like time had turned back a year, before Quinn had been kicked off the Cheerios, out of her home and down the school hierarchy.

Almost. The cat fight between Quinn and Santana that Rachel had witnessed with a mixture of fear and apprehension was a reminder of how much things had changed this past year.

Rachel watched pensively, wincing as Santana and Quinn dragged each other across the narrow hallway. Backs were slammed into lockers, hair was pulled until it was an untidy mess, insults tossed back and forth. The crowded hallway filled with excited - and hormonal - teenagers goading them on.

Finally Mr Schuester arrived, tearing through the crowds to pull Santana off of Quinn.

"Hey. Hey! What is this? What happened to us being a family?"

"Oh Please. She has a family. She's a Mother!"

Rachel flinched at the severity of the insult, and saw Quinn do the same. Her brown eyes softened with hurt, showing that the scars of past mistakes had not even begun to heal. That moment of weakness didn't last long.

"WALK AWAY, AND TIGHTEN THAT PONYTAIL BEFORE YOU GET TO CLASS!"

The ferocity in Quinn's words, the bite in her speech, and in her icy glare conveyed one thing. She was back at the top...

Rachel hadn't spoken to Quinn since she had given away baby Beth. If she was honest with herself, she was slightly relieved that the blonde had not approached her. The hurt at hearing that her own mother, who hadn't wanted to form any sort of relationship with her, had adopted a brand new baby girl hadn't lessened any over the weeks that followed.

The feeling of concern and worry that seemed to linger when she was in the blondes presence, however, had also remained stubbornly near. It had nagged at Rachel since the Glee club had returned to school after their unsuccessful regional competition.

Rachel knew she and Quinn had never been what many would call 'close'. They had never been friends, never had many meaningful conversations – not for Rachel's lack of trying.

But she was worried about the blonde. She had noticed Quinn become more distant and passive in Glee as the weeks after Regionals passed. The fact that she was at school extraordinarily early, and for no apparent reason, only heightened Rachel's uneasiness.

Maybe part of it was guilt. Rachel still hadn't fully forgiven herself for spilling Quinn's secret to Finn, even if everybody else had seemed to.

She couldn't stop the guilt from washing over her every time she saw Quinn send a hopeful smile of friendship Finn's way, only to have it returned with a glare.

Every time she heard the bitchy remarks and gossip in the hallways that lately had always seemed to surround Quinn, she felt the guilt bubbling up inside of her.

But she couldn't shake off the feeling that it was more than that. That she needed to talk to Quinn, show her that there was somebody she could lean on if need be, a friendly ear willing to listen. To extended the olive branch of friendship one last time, even if it was to be thrown back in her face.

That was when Rachel decided she really needed to talk to Quinn.

Strolling quietly through the empty hallways, Rachel had reasoned with herself that this would be the perfect time to track Quinn down. Apart from a few over enthusiastic teachers, the classrooms were empty. Everywhere was silent. It would be the perfect time to talk to the cheerleader without risking being interrupted or Quinn escaping in the busy crowds of student.

'Now, if only I could find Quinn...'

Rachel had always considered thoroughness one of her many positive attributes. Whether it be an off-key glee club member, or an important item misplaced in her room, she would always locate what she was looking for.

That was why she found it so puzzling. How could she find a missing Barbra Streisand key ring but not a 16 year old girl?

She had searched every hallway, classroom and library in the school. Quinn Fabray obviously did not want to be found.

8:38 am.

Glancing at her watch angrily, she noted that classes would be starting soon. Internally struggling with her determination to find Quinn, and her almost primal need to complete her vocal warm ups before school began, Rachel stopped and glanced at her surroundings, irritated and mystified.

Wondering where she hadn't yet checked, Rachel was suddenly hit with an idea. In her certainty of the lack of Cheerio's practice this morning, Rachel hadn't bothered to look in the girl's locker room, although she figured it was a long shot; what would Quinn be doing in there so early? However, it was the only place she hadn't yet checked.

Turning and heading back the way she came, Rachel headed towards the Cheerios' locker room. She walked apprehensively. The girls' locker room was never high on Rachel's list of places she wanted to be. The bad memories of being teased relentlessly by the Cheerios she was forced into a class with still left her with an irrational hatred of all things involving gym class.

'Boy's locker room is across the hall, RuPaul'

'Enjoy your slushy today, Hobbit?'

'You're not on my team stubbles. I actually want to win'

The laughter that echoed around the large room was imprinted on Rachel's mind. 'They'll regret laughing when I win my EGOT' Rachel had reasoned with herself at the time.

The personal trauma was quickly forgotten about though, when she spotted the object of her lengthy pursuit. Quinn Fabray was standing in front of her designated locker, facing away from Rachel. Who couldn't help but notice, Quinn was standing only in her underwear.

Shuffling from one foot to the other and trying not to make a sound, Rachel panicked. This was one of the many social situations that she felt ill-prepared for, despite the numerous books she had read on the matter.

What exactly does one do when a girl you hardly feel like you know is standing before you in a state of undress, unaware of your presence?

Letting her eyes trail down the blonde's body, Rachel stepped forwards slowly. Her mouth opened slightly with words that were never spoken.

She scanned the soft skin of Quinn's back, the delicate slopes of her hips and traced the toned lines of her thighs. Having a baby had certainly done little to effect her body. Not that Rachel made of habit of noticing Quinn's physique...

Her gazed followed the path back up, gazing at incredible abs for probably longer than many would deem appropriate.

'Wait... how can I see Quinn's stomach...'

Eyes widened comically and shot upwards to be faced with an angry blonde. Quinn was facing her now, a cheerleading top being hastily pulled over her head, and a glare fixed on her face.

"What are you staring at me for, Berry?"

"Oh. I... I wasn't staring." Rachel laughed nervously, struggling to form an adequate explanation.

'...Why am I here again?'

"I was looking for you actually. I needed to talk to you, I thought you might-"

"So you thought you'd just stand there and not saying anything?" Quinn interrupted, her arms rigidly folding across her chest. Now, thankfully for Rachel, fully dressed.

"I was actually going to wait until you were fully clothed to have this conversation, to avoid any unnecessary awkwardness, I... I guess we can forget that. But seeing as you are now dressed, I was wondering if you wanted to talk..."

"Talk about what?" Quinn asked. There was no aggression or annoyance in the blonde's voice, more like disinterest. Like she'd rather be anywhere else in the world than in the William McKinley girl's locker room right now.

"Well, as glee club captain I think it's important that all members of the club feel that they are supported by the rest of the team... and after everything that has happened over the past few months I just wanted you to know that you have a group of friends who are here for you. And with that in mind... I wanted to let you know that if you need somebody to talk to... I'm here."

"No."

"Excuse me?" Rachel replied slowly, confused.

"No. I don't want to talk to you."

Picking up her gym bag, Quinn rushed past Rachel and out of the door, without looking back once. The confusion was still set on Rachel's face as the door slammed behind her. She jumped as the bell rang, signalling the beginning of first period.

Despite being extraordinarily early, Rachel Berry was going to be late that day.