CHAPTER 1

It was a Friday night, and 22 year old Quinn Fabray was alone in her small yet comfortable apartment in New York. It wasn't that she couldn't have gone out, some of her friends invited her clubbing but tonight she just didn't feel like it. She felt she needed to stay home tonight and clear her head. A lot had been going on with her lately. She needed to gain control of her emotions. She couldn't stop thinking about what had happened the previous week, or the week before, or the week before that – actually, she couldn't stop thinking about what had been going on with her feelings for the past 2 months!

It all started one chilly afternoon of September, she absolutely loved this weather; it was chilly enough that she could wear hoodies or cute jackets but it wasn't too cold that she would need to wear 2 shirts, a hoodie, a jacket, and gloves. She'd been sitting outside her favorite café talking to one of her best friends.

"Maddy, I know! You probably think I'm a terrible person, but I just didn't feel the chemistry! I can't help it."

"But you didn't even find him attractive?"

"Of course I did, he was hot, but the whole date was so boring! I honestly couldn't wait for it to be over."

As they sat there discussing Quinn's failed date, the waitress walked outside with their drinks, as she gave each girl their respective drink, she turned to Quinn.

"Anything else I can do for you honey?"

Quinn wasn't sure if she had imagined it of if the waitress had actually asked her question in a rather seductive way. She quickly glanced at Madison to make sure that she hadn't imagined it, and sure enough, Maddy was just sitting there looking at the waitress with raised eyebrows.

"Um.. no, thank you.. Just the check."

As the waitress left, Maddy sat there staring at Quinn.

"What was that all about?" Quinn asked a little taken aback.

"Well, clearly, she's into you" Maddy answered with a smirk.

"Oh shut up!" However, Quinn couldn't help but smile shyly.

The waitress returned and gave Quinn the check, winking before turning on her heels and walking into the small café.

Quinn held the tiny piece of paper up so she could see how much it had been so she could pay when suddenly she heard Maddy.

"No. Freaking. Way! I told you she was into you!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Turn it over."

"What?" Quinn asked as she turned the tiny piece of paper in her hands before she saw what was on it and gasped.

"Wow.. I just got a girl's number."

"Way to go tiger." Maddy said winking jokingly at Quinn.

Quinn chuckled as she felt the blood rush up to her face, feeling the heat on her cheeks and ears, and she knew at once she must have been blushing incredibly hard. Maddy just smiled.

"Do you think I should call her?" Quinn asked, not being able to look at her friend in the eye.

"Well, do you want to?" Maddy was looking rather curious by now. In the three years she'd known Quinn she had no idea that Quinn was into girls.

"I don't know, I've never dated a girl before."

"Since when do you like girls?"

"I didn't think I did, but she's kind of hot, and to be honest, after having absolutely no luck with guys, who says I can't give a girl a shot?"

As Quinn said this, she started to fully understand the truth of her words. What if that was the reason why she couldn't manage to date a guy for more than a few months before getting bored and dumping them? The last guy she remembered dating that she was actually into was Sam, and she hadn't seen or talked to him since they broke up the first year of college.

Quinn sat on her bed with her elbows on her knees and her face in her hands. Although she was bored, she was really glad that she stayed home tonight. She wasn't sure she was ready to accept the truth, even though she knew she would have to do it eventually. She'd gone on a few dates with the waitress but then when things started to seem like they'd get a bit too serious for Quinn's liking, she got scared and ended things before they had even started. This is how it had been with 2 other girls after the waitress. Quinn enjoyed the first few dates, the thrill of something new, something different; but as soon as things started to seem like they could get serious, she ended it. She had also gone on a few dates with a few guys but they had been so different, there wasn't that thrill, that excitement. She figured maybe it was a phase because she was sure she still liked guys, it just seemed like things were a bit more exciting with girls.

And it didn't help that she didn't really have anyone to talk to about her feelings. I mean sure, Maddy was always there to tell her what she thought but it didn't feel like it was enough because Maddy was completely straight, and although Quinn was thankful for the fact that when she told her friend about what was going on, she'd taken it incredibly well. Maddy was really a great friend and she did all she could to help the blonde. But the former Cheerio still felt that she needed to talk to someone who understood what she was going through.

That's when it hit her, if she didn't know anyone who understood what she was going through, then maybe she could find someone. So she got off of her bed, went to her desk, and started her laptop. Once it was on she went on Google and typed "lesbian chat rooms". She clicked on the first link she found. Her hands started to sweat so she rubbed them on her jeans which she was still wearing from earlier that day. As the chat room loaded the first thing that she saw was a tiny pop-up window requesting a username. She considered using a fake name so nobody would recognize her.

'Don't be stupid Quinn, there are probably millions of Quinns in the US, plus, nobody would ever think that seeing the name Quinn on a lesbian chat room would automatically mean Quinn Fabray.'

'Right but what if I suddenly start talking to someone who happens to know me?'

'Well in that case they would be in the same situation as you, don't you think? I mean they would probably be in this chat room not wanting anyone to recognize them, because as far as I know, we don't know any out of the closet lesbians.'

'Hmm yeah I guess you're right.'

Quinn just decided to go ahead and use her name. Pressing the 'Join chat room' button she could feel her heartbeat speed up and just like that, she was in the chat room.

She sat there for about 10 minutes just staring at her screen reading what everyone was saying, they were talking about nothing in particular, definitely nothing of importance. She'd received a few personal messages but after a few seconds she'd close the windows because all they wanted to do was cybersex, whereas all Quinn wanted to do, was talk to someone normal. It didn't help the fact that most of the people in the chat room had rather weird or kinky usernames such as AznLsbian, TheRimmer, LesboFreak, SexyGrrl, Lookin4a3Sum, among others.

Quinn was starting to lose her patience so she decided to get changed and get a glass of water. When she got back from the kitchen and checked on the chat room once more she had a few personal messages.

HornyGurl: Hey bby ;) looking for some sexy time?

Quinn: No thanks.

Window closed.

SexGoddess: I'm so lonely, wanna play with me?

Quinn: Wtf?

Window closed.

It went like this for another 25 minutes, and just as Quinn was about ready to give up and get offline to watch a movie and go to sleep. Another personal message popped up.

Nicole: Hey, how's it going?

Quinn: Not too bad, but not great either. Yourself?

Nicole: I'm good, thanks. Didn't have any plans for tonight?

Quinn: I did. I just felt like staying home. What about you? How come you're in a chat room at 11pm on a Friday?

Nicole: Lol well I went out last night and drank a bit too much. Still hungover.

Quinn: Ha that sucks. I'm glad I'm finally talking to a normal person on here. I was starting to lose hope.

Nicole: Lol yeah. If you're looking for normal girls, then you either need to find them elsewhere, or you have to be very patient. So, tell me a little bit about yourself.

Quinn: Ok. What do you want to know?

Nicole: Mmmm.. Well, before we continue talking, you should probably tell me how old you are, so I don't feel like a complete pedo in case you're 12.

Quinn couldn't help but smile at the comment. This girl was actually pretty funny.

Quinn: Haha, that's a good point. I'm 22. What about you?

Nicole: 23. So where are you from?

Quinn talked to Nicole for another couple hours. They got to know the most basic things about one another, likes and dislikes, favorite movies, favorite music, favorite TV. shows, books, anything they could ask. She found out that Nicole lived in New York, and was studying to become a film director. From what Quinn could tell, they had quite a few things in common, and it felt nice to have someone to talk to who was into girls, even if they didn't really get into that in depth. All Quinn told Nicole from her personal life was that she was from Ohio, that she was bisexual, single, and that she was still struggling to fully come to terms with her sexuality. Nicole had been really nice about it and understanding which was exactly what Quinn needed. Nicole told Quinn about her experience when she realized she was a lesbian and what she went through when she came out.

Nicole: Alright Quinn, although it's been really nice talking to you, I have to go; my roommate's home. Maybe I'll talk to you again sometime?

Before she could even think about it, Quinn gave Nicole her phone number and told her to text her whenever she wanted because she'd like to talk to Nicole again and it was nice to have someone to talk to who understood what Quinn was going through.

It had been a month since Quinn met Nicole in the chat room. They got along incredibly well and Quinn was extremely happy of having her as a friend because in the month that had passed, not only did Nicole help Quinn come to terms with her sexuality, fully accepting that she was bisexual, but also now Quinn had a friend that she could talk about girls to. Only last week, Quinn and Nicole had met in person for the first time.

They'd gone to Starbucks for coffee (it was Quinn's idea to meet somewhere public just in case. She still wasn't too thrilled about the idea of meeting up with someone she had met online). At first, things had been kind of awkward. There were a lot of uncomfortable silences, but after a little bit of small talk, they totally hit it off.

"Alright so, what do you think?" Nicole asked while gesturing at her own body with her hands.

"Well, I think you're incredibly nice and funny, and I'm definitely glad that you're not some 46 year old creeper" Quinn said smiling.

Nicole couldn't help but laugh at this; and she was incredibly happy herself that Quinn wasn't a 12 year old girl that could have caused Nicole to get in trouble. After a while of talking, Nicole went serious and just needed to say what was on her mind.

"Hey Quinn, there's something I need to tell you now that we're just getting to know each other and so things don't get weird between us. I want you to know that it's great that we're friends and all, and I'm really happy that I've been able to help you come to terms and open up about your sexuality, but I think you should know that I'm not into you as anything other than just friends."

Quinn stared at Nicole with wide eyes, not saying anything for an entire minute before bursting out in laughter.

"What's so funny?" Nicole asked with one raised eyebrow.

After catching her breath, Quinn explained.

"I'm sorry Nicole, I just never saw you as anything other than a friend. No offense but, I'm not into redheads."

At this, Nicole started laughing, and Quinn joined her. There was no awkwardness between them and Quinn thought it was great. They continued talking for a while longer before it was time to go.

"Hey Quinn, next Saturday my roommate and I are having a little get together, I think it would be great if you could come hang out with us. I'm sure they'd love you and I have a couple friends who happen to be into girls." Nicole winked at Quinn, who couldn't help but smile.

"Yeah, I think that's a great idea! Thanks for the invite, just text me your address and then time and I'll see you Saturday."

It was finally Saturday. Quinn had been so worried about this party that she asked Maddy to go to the mall with her so she could buy someone to wear. She was wearing tight dark blue jeans, with a sleeveless cute black top, and black heels. Maddy helped her with her makeup, and even she told Quinn she looked hot. Maddy had asked Quinn if needed moral support, but Quinn kindly refused saying she'd be ok and that it would be nice to go to this party/get together thing alone so she could meet Nicole's friends. Maddy didn't argue, and Quinn was thankful for that. Maddy really was a great friend.

Quinn arrived at Nicole's apartment at 10:30 and rang the bell. Although the invite had been at 10, ever since Quinn moved to New York she decided that to these social gatherings, it was always good to be fashionably late. It ensured that people would notice her arrival. Nicole opened the door and smiled widely at Quinn before pulling her by the wrist into the apartment. As Nicole showed Quinn around the apartment, she introduced to anyone and everyone that was in the way. There was someone Nicole was looking but couldn't find, and Quinn noticed.

"Hey is everything alright? Who are you looking for?"

"My roommate, she was here a few minutes ago but I have no idea where she went – oh wait – there she is! Hey roomie! There you are! Listen this is the girl I was telling you about, the one I met online."

Nicole's roommate was talking to someone so she had her back turned to them, but Quinn couldn't help getting this weird familiar feeling, as if she'd seen that chocolate brown hair before. Then as "roomie" turned around smiling hugely at her roommate, her smile faded instantaneously the second she laid eyes on Quinn. Quinn's held her breath, her eyes going wide with shock.

Berry. Rachel Berry. Rachel Barbra Berry.