AUTHORS NOTE: Before we start, I'd like to say I'm so excited about this new story. This idea has been kicking around in the back of my head for a while now. I'm really hoping you guys will like the concept and decide to stick around. Thanks for reading!

Chapter 1

It was another lazy Sunday afternoon. Rachel leaned across Quinn to grab an ice cube, dragging it softly across her lips. Summer had hit Ohio full force this year—it was a crisp 68 degrees outside, and, evidently, inside Rachel and Quinn's apartment.

"What is up with the air conditioning?" Quinn whined.

"It must be broken," Rachel muttered absently. "I'll call Puckerman."

"Forget about it, Finn will be here any minute. I'm sure he can work something out," Quinn sighs, leaning back and sipping her iced water.

"You're finally letting me meet him?" Rachel asked with wide-eyed mock-surprise. "What's the occasion?"

She shrugged, "Figured you two would probably be meeting tomorrow morning anyway."

"Slut," Rachel teased.

"Bitch!" Quinn responded, as usual. This was their thing.

Finn was Quinn's new boyfriend. Or play thing, whichever you prefer. Quinn had been going through boyfriends her whole life and the summer after freshmen year at College would be no exception. Rachel almost felt bad for the guy. She hadn't met him yet, but if he was like any of the other boys he would be a pretty face and nothing more. Quinn's men were increasingly shallow. Rachel always told her to aim higher, that she deserved better. But Tay never listened.

"Pass another cube," Rachel responded.

The girls sat quietly on the balcony, grateful for the wind. Soon they were both lost in their own thoughts. Then suddenly Quinn squealed, startling Rachel.

"He's here!"

Rachel turned to see a silver Prius pulling into the parking lot. She crinkled her nose. "What kind of pretentious loser drives a Prius? I bet he also buys premium gas and asks for more soy in his coffee."

"Be nice," Quinn warned. "I really like this guy! And he's not pretendous!"

Rachel was still laughing at Quinn's mistake as she jumped up, running down to meet Finn. She didn't even bother asking what Rachel was guffawing about. Oddly enough, Rachel had never seen Quinn act this way about a guy before. She looked out the window just in time to see their reunion.

The guy wasn't quite what Rachel expected... He was tall and lanky, in other words, not on steroids. His hair made him look like he just rolled out of bed, yet somehow he made it work. Everything about him screamed sophistication, all but that 'Come fuck me smile' and lazy eyes.

Rachel stopped herself before she could examine any further. Their apartment was on the second floor, so she got a pretty good view. But this guy was screwing her roommate and long-time best friend. She could not be attracted to him.

Even though they had only seen each other the night before, Finn scooped her up in his arms and planted a movie-worthy kiss on her lips, followed by three more chaste kisses. Feeling rude, Rachel got up from her perch on the balcony and went about opening all the windows in the apartment. Soon the front door was flying open and Quinn was prancing through it.

"Rach, I'd like you to meet my new boyfriend, Finn Hudson. Finn, this is my roommate and longtime friend, Rachel Berry."

Rachel turned towards them, prepared to be the best friend any girl could ask for. She could sweep her attraction under the rug till Quinn dumped him. She stopped that thought instantly. No, it was wrong for her to want him. He was probably just another pretty face. Just like all the others.

That was before she looked into his eyes; warm chocolate brown, surrounded by thick lashes that were wasted on a boy. Behind them Rachel could see an old soul. Her mouth popped open and she lost all trains of thought. He was so unbelievably goodlooking; it was easy to see why he'd be with a girl like Quinn. All of Quinn's boyfriends were attractive. But this guy... he was something else entirely. And that threw Rachel off to no end.

"Pleased to meet you, Rachel."

God, his voice is sexy. Very husky, very manly. Fuck, I really shouldn't be thinking these things.

"Likewise," Rachel breathed, gripping his outstretched hand. The second their hands touched, a spark shot through her. She wasn't sure if he felt it, but it was definitely there. And she hated it.

They went to sit on the couch. Rachel suddenly felt very conscious of the fact that she was only wearing a long Rolling Stones tank top and her underwear. It had been so hot and she didn't think anyone but her and Quinn would be here.

Fuck it, she thought, sitting on the couch and curling her legs under her.

The whole time they chatted Rachel tried to keep her eyes on Quinn. Until the other girl got up to use the washroom, leaving Rachel and Finn completely alone. Rachel was prepared to ignore him entirely. But then he complimented her on her Rolling Stones t-shirt, claiming they prompted him to become a musician.

"Really?" Rachel squeaked, then composed herself. "Which instrument do you play?"

"Lead guitar and vocals," he responded with a smirk.

"I bet you also write your own stuff."

"You're an excellent guesser, Miss Berry," he confirmed huskily. Rachel hadn't realized, but they had been leaning closer and closer.

"Maybe you're just easy to read," Rachel responded, surprised with how easy it was to talk with him.

"I see you've been doing a lot of that."

She raised her eyebrows in question.

"Reading," he responded. "I know those Tolstoy novels don't belong to Quinn."

"Oh," Rachel answered, turning to see the pile of worn books she'd left on the couch before Quinn woke up. Then Quinn had complained about the heat, dragging Rachel out onto the balcony with a bucket of ice.

"That reminds me. Our air conditioners broken," Rachel muttered absently. She glanced at Finn, deciding. "I'll call my friend Puck, he's a wiz with that kind of stuff."

"I can do it."

She looked back at him, searching his eyes. She could see that Finn was good to his core, but there was something else there. Something hidden beneath the perfection.

"That'd be great, thanks."

Quinn came back, just in time to show Finn where the damn machine was. Then she came back running, with a secret smile on her face.

"So, what do you think?"

"He seems really nice, Quinn. I'm happy for you," she responded with a forced smile, hoping she didn't sound too jealous.

"Good! Because you might be planning our wedding someday," she winked.

Then, blessedly, cold air started blasting. "Yes!" Rachel exclaimed, forgetting her worries for a moment, and both girls started clapping.

"We're going out for a bit, don't wait up."

When Rachel returned to her room, she realized just how spent she was.

After you've spent a night in bed with someone you love, it's apparently never the same again. So Rachel was taking as many nights alone in bed as she could. Being single was a luxury for Rachel, although now monogamy didn't seem like a bad idea. At least, it didn't after seeing Quinn and Finn all lovey-dovey.

She tried not to think about how about how her best friend had everything she ever wanted in a man. Now that he was officially dating Quinn, there was nothing she could do about it. A guy was strictly off limits if he dated your best friend. Quinn had made sure Rachel was certain of this when they were younger. It's not like Rachel wanted her sloppy seconds, anyway. Besides, Finn was clearly infatuated with Quinn. A guy like that could never be interested in plain Rachel Berry.

Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something about him...

He was something else.

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A/N Please review!