AN: It's been a while since I've actually seriously got my write on. Glee and related characters don't belong to me. This story is AU, Rachel is athletic and Quinn is secretly a giant nerd.

Thanks for reading! I'd love to hear what you think.

My other story, Snapshots contains ficlets from this 'verse.

Rachel Berry squared her shoulders, settled her messenger bag firmly over one shoulder and took a deep breath. It was her first dayat McKinley High and she stared at the red doors with a growing sense of dread. Maybe it wasn't too late to turn around and go sit in her car until the school day was over. Yeah, maybe she could start tomorrow. Tuesday was certainly a more lucky day than Monday, wasn't it?

The small brunette snorted and ran a hand through her hair. Who was she kidding? The sooner she got into the school and got started, she sooner she could settle into routine and get on with the rest of her high school life, and move on to bigger and better things.

With a deep breath, she pushed the red doors open and was met with a frosty welcome.

"Welcome to McKinley, new kid! High five, bro!"

She heard the mad cackling of adolescents mocking her as she tried to wipe the chunks of slush and corn syrup from her eyes. The bell rang as she stood there, chest heaving and fists clenched.

"You must be new here," a soft voice said from somewhere off to her side. Rachel smeared the mess out of her eyes with the heel of her hand and looked at the blonde girl who was speaking to her. The red cheerleading outfit contrasted sharply with the girl's pale skin, and Rachel couldn't help but appreciate the bold contrast.

"Yeah, first day. I just transferred," Rachel said, "is this how transfers are always treated at your school?" She gestured to the puddle around her feet, "because it kinda sucks."

Quinn smiled softly and shook her head, "the football team is just running off a high. They won their first game in forever and now they're acting like jerks. I don't suppose you have a spare change of clothes in your bag?"

"Uh, yeah kinda. I have my gym clothes," Rachel said with a sigh. "I can just put my gym shirt on with my jeans, I don't think I got any of this crap in them. Do you think you can point me to a bathroom or something?" the brunette asked, "because I think this stuff is starting to dry and it's a little gross." She licked her lips, "even if grape is possibly the best flavor known to man."

"You're mad," Quinn said giving Rachel a sideways look with her eyes narrowed, and Rachel couldn't help but feel vaguely offended. "Cherry is the best flavor, hands down. And, follow me. You can use the Cheerio's locker room and shower if you want. There's nobody in there at this time of the morning. Besides," she shrugged, "being head cheerleader has to come with some perks, right? I'm Quinn Fabray, by the way. It's nice to meet you."

Rachel gaped at the blonde. "Uh, Rachel.. Berry."

"Come on, Rachel Berry," Quinn said with a smile. "Follow me. We'll have you cleaned up in time for second period."

"Oh shit," the brunette moaned, "I was supposed to meet with the principal before first period."

"Figgins can wait," Quinn shrugged. "And if I didn't know better I'd say you enjoyed standing there covered in slush and corn syrup."

"Well.." Rachel said a small smirk on her face, "it is grape.."

The blonde Cheerio laughed out loud at that one, and Rachel couldn't help but marvel at how her hazel eyes lit up. "Let's go get you cleaned up, then we can debate the better slushie flavor."

"No arguments here."

The girls parted ways after Quinn explained to Rachel the easiest way to get corn syrup out of hair and clothes, and Rachel was left to make her way to Principal Figgins' office and the rest of her classes alone.

"Miss Berry, it seems you are late." Rachel couldn't help but stare incredulously at the indian man seated behind the desk. "It seems that I may have to remind you that here at William Mckinley High School we do not tolerate deviants!" he punctuated the last four words of his sentence with slaps on the top of his desk.

"I am not a deviant!" Rachel couldn't help but exclaim, irate. "I was waylaid on my way to see you by miscreants who thought it would be funny to dump a slushie on my head!"

"Now, now," Figgins spoke, in what he must have presumed to be a soothing tone but only further incensed the tiny brunette sitting in front of him, "boys will be boys."

Rachel could only stare at him with her mouth hanging open until he prodded her out of his office and she was left standing in the middle of the hall.

"Welcome to McKinley, indeed." she grumbled as she stalked down the hall in search of her next class.