A/N: Okay, I wrote this Fanfic a couple years ago, but gave up on it. I read it again and decided to edit it and give it another go, so it's super duper improved from my 14 year old writing! And has a little bit more detail added, enjoy!
*I think it's my place to say that I do not own Glee and sadly that means I do not own the people involved
** This is a Faberry Fic, so if you do not ship them than I suggest you turn away now.
*** If you do not agree with Girl-Girl relationships than I suggest you also turn away, and I very much appreciate it if you wouldn't ridicule it just because you don't believe in Gay relationships. If you don't like it then simply don't read.
**** I'm from England, so some of the things I write will be different to how it would normally be on the show, such as when they're in school (For instance, you guys have like 7 classes a day, don't you? I only have 5, and you call them different things and stuff, so my apologies! ^^) or when they talk. Sorry about that, but I'll try to keep it relatively simple =] Anyway, enough rambling. On to the story :3

In Denial

Rachel's POV:
I've never, not even once, let my Team-mates get to me, not when they have chucked flavoured corn-syrup in my face, not when they have insult my dress-sense, not when they have insult my ability to talk for hours on end, not even when I have had those crude comments on my MySpace video's (But I just put that down to them being Jealous)

So, when none other than Quinn Fabray, beautiful head cheerleader who is ranked highest on the popularity ladder, stood up and defended me when Mercedes Jones once again flared up an argument after Mr. Schuester gave me a solo, saying I was confused is an understatement. It's very rare that anyone at all sticks up for me other than Finn Hudson, quarterback and my Ex-boyfriend, but that doesn't count. He just wanted to take my virginity. So, to Have Quinn of all people jump up and defend me is highly surprising. To the point where I am speechless, which everyone knows is near-impossible!

"Mercedes, just because you didn't get your stupid solo doesn't mean you should go ridiculing Rachel's talent! And insulting her because of it? Seriously, that's low. Even for your standards!"

Everyone, including Mercedes, was in a stunned silence. No one expected her to be the person to fight for me. They probably thought that she jumped up so she could throw her own clever remarks into the argument.

"When did you start sticking up for Man-Hands, Tubs?" Santana, trust her to butt in.

"Don't call her that!" Quinn defended, before realising what Santana had called her "And don't call me that either!" Quinn said through gritted teeth, Santana just shot her a smirk then turned back to Brittany.

"Guuuurl, what's up with you? Sticking up for that irritating little diva over there? That's not like you, at all!" Mercedes exclaimed, Quinn visibly clenched her hands into fists, glare fully in place and her stance showing just how truly livid she was.

"You don't even know me! None of you know me! So what if I stuck up for her? Don't you think, for once, she deserves someone to be there for her when the rest of you act like complete bitches to her? I do, so I'm going to be there! You guys are all pathetic!" Quinn near enough shouts, red-faced with rage.

"Good luck with that, I bet by the end of the week her rants and general self-absorbed attitude will have you running in the opposite direction!" Kurt stated, knowingly.

"Who are you to judge, pretty boy? All you talk about are hair products and fashion. How does that make you any better?" Quinn spat, bitterly.

"At least I'm not holding on to a dream that will never happen" He dead-panned, inspecting his nails in boredom.

That comment on its own had tears pushing themselves out, begrudgingly.

"My dreams are the only thing that keeps me going ..." I said quietly, but loud enough for everyone to hear. They all turn to look at me, even Kurt bothered to look up "If it wasn't for those dreams, I would have given up years ago... It's the only thing that makes all your criticism worth bearing" I said in such a small voice that I wouldn't be surprised if nobody actually heard me, honestly. Suddenly everything's blurred and I'm only half aware that I've just ran out the choir room and out to the corridor and I only slightly hear the door to the choir room open and close, and the faint sound of footsteps coming towards me.

I try to run before whoever it is gets close, scared that it's just someone wanting to insult me some more, but it seemed that they are too fast. Next thing I knew, someone's tugging my arm so that I turn around and then I'm pulled into a warm embrace. Strong arms wrap around my neck, making sure I don't pull away. Instinctively, I wrap my arms around their small waist, and it's the soft whispers and reassurances in my ear that tell me that it is in fact Quinn who had come after me.

It doesn't take long for the tears to subside and all that's left is sniffles, I pull away to look at Quinn, hazel eyes full of concern staring back at me. She gives me a tentative smile "Don't believe them" She whispered to me, quietly.

"What?" I whisper back, momentarily confused as to what she meant, her eyes are very distracting; they're so many different colours! Greens and browns and greys all swirling together! But then I register what she was referring to and "Oh..." Is all I say.

"You... You don't actually believe them do you?" She asks and all I can do is shrug, should I not believe them? I mean, what they said makes sense, I'm striving on dreams that are completely unrealistic "Don't believe them, they're wrong." She says softly, and she takes my hand in hers, we both stare down at our joined hands. Her hands are so silky and smooth! "They aren't man-hands" She whispered, almost amazed at her own little revelation.

"I knew that" I replied, tense; not knowing what else to say because, honestly? What do you say when someone tells you that you don't have manly hands? She looks back up, smiling softly, before her lips turn down again.

"I'm sorry" She whispers, before clearing her throat "I'm... I'm so, so sorry Rachel" She says louder "I'm sorry for all of the things I called you and all of the things I made other people call you, and for all of the Slushy's... Oh God, so many Slushies.. I'm such a bad person" She said, before looking back down at our joined hands, there can't be much more than a foot between us now, and it's quite intoxicating. She smells gorgeous, like honey! Suddenly there is a confused look that crosses her face "Why did I ever call you man-hands in the first place? You're hands are so tiny! And soft and... And so UN-manly! And yet I called them that? Why would I want to call them that?"

She continues looking at them for a moment longer, looking positively baffled, before looking back up at me, a look of desperation crossing her face "Please forgive me? I may never be able to make it up to you.. And, well.. I wouldn't blame you, honestly.. But, I can try, can't I? If you'd give me the chance, I can prove to you just how sorry I am, please?" She says, and a tear trickles from her eye, down her cheek and all I can do is watch that droplet of water travel down until it falls from her jaw and onto the floor.

I just stare at her, searching for any signs that she may be lying. I search her hazel eyes, for any flicker of... Well, I'm not even sure. But, I'm searching. And then what looks like hesitation crosses her features, followed by what looks like regret, and I can visibly see her panic, and that sudden panic gives me my answer; I finally open my mouth "Okay" I whisper and a relieved grin spreads across her face and she lets go of my hand and hugs me so delicately, like she's scared that any sudden movement will make me change my mind. She has one hand on my hip and the other on my upper back. Her face is buried in my hair and I can actually feel her smiling against my skin. Her steady breaths on my neck and for a second I feel something weird, low in my stomach... Almost like... Butterflies? No, no. I'm obviously misinterpreting it for something else.

When she pulls away she beams at me, her hands landing on my upper arms, before trailing down until she is holding my hands in her own. I smile back. And then something occurs to me "So, wait... Does this mean were... Friends?" I ask, needing some kind of confirmation.

She looks at me for a minute, studying me before smiling even more, if that's even possible. "Yes Rachel, were friends" And this time it's my turn to smile because I've never had a real friend "So are you coming back into Glee or...?" She asks tentatively, I smile and nod gently. She releases one of my hands, but uses the other to pull me back into the choir room, both of us ignoring the surprised looks from our Team-mates and one smirk from Santana. And I try to let go off her hand in order to go to my seat and so she can go to hers but instead she holds on tighter, pulls me along, lets me sit down and takes a seat down next to me.

And for the first time in a long while I have a sense of pride, I don't even care that everyone is looking at us, because Quinn still has a hold on my hand and for some reason that makes everything okay. For once, I can smile without some kind of shame.

For once, I'm happy.

So, that's the first chapter up guys. I hope it was okay? And reviews are great :D It keeps me in the know how!

Let me know if you thought this was good okay? Thankyou!