A/N: I don't own Glee nor the characters within. Alrightie. Another new story, you say? You can blame ApathyandEmpathy for this. She's the one who convinced me to post this as its own, in progress story. *grins* Only echoing what I thought myself, though. I just like being able to blame her. XD Anyway, this was a drunken drabble prompted from an anon, who prompted, 'Faberry where Rachel joins the Cheerios for Quinn which makes Santana jealous'. Let's see who'll prevail, hmm?


Sue was a dragon lady Rachel could handle. She'd decided this after one of the glee practices the Cheerio's coach had crashed, quickly realizing that Sue was nowhere near as scary as the Russian ballet teacher she'd had since she was five years old. So, as she'd headed into Coach Sylvester's inner sanctum (otherwise known as her office), Rachel knew she'd be able to handle whatever vitriol the older woman spat at her.

As it was, it pretty harmless. After making fun of her nose and obvious Jewish heritage, the coach had thrown various situations at her, forcing her to strategize how she'd be able to split her time between her already full schedule and what the Cheerios were forced to deal with. Having been prepared for this, Rachel had pulled out her thumb drive, presenting the USB stick as a kind of offering to Sue, telling her in no uncertain terms that she'd already figured everything out with the help of a handy PowerPoint presentation.

The only question that gave her pause was the one asking her why she wanted to join the Cheerios in the first place.

"Because," Rachel had pushed her chin up, hands curling on the arms of the chair she sat in, "I feel like I need another extracurricular activity to round out my high school transcript."

But Sue had leaned forward. "You're sure," she'd pressed, staring deliberately into Rachel's eyes, "It has nothing to do with my two head cheerleaders?"

Rachel's eyelashes had fluttered no matter how hard she'd tried to stop any response from showing on her face. "I don't have any idea as to what you are implying," she'd smiled, "I just wish to become a member of a nationally ranked cheerleading squad."

"Right," Sue sat back, steepling her hands together over her desk, "And I'm Mother Teresa. Still, I'll humor you as long as I decide you make a good addition to our squad." She straightened, then held out her hand, "Welcome, Barbra, you'll find a uniform waiting for you in your civilian locker. Put it on and for god's sake, may you never be seen in another god awful animal sweater."


The reaction she got when she strode into glee two minutes late, hair up in a high ponytail and feeling the draft in the choir room even more in the Cheerio's uniform than in her normal short skirt was definitely worth it.

Santana and Brittany, who had been talking amongst themselves, practically stopped mid-sentence, Quinn walking towards them stopping in her path. The rest of the class had hushed as well, a loud, "No way," falling from Puck's lips.

"Yes way," Rachel grinned, posing with her hands on her hips, lips curving up, eyes dancing over towards the three Cheerios gawking at her, "May I introduce you to the newest member of Sue's A Squad?"

"You're fucking joking," Santana ground out, eyes burning, Quinn echoing her sentiment as she stalked towards Rachel.

"You better take that off," Quinn warned, "Are you suicidal? I don't know what you're planning with this dress-up, but I'm telling you you're going to regret it."

Pursing her lips, Rachel gave the blonde a wide smile. "Really?" she asked loftily, "Why don't you go to Coach Sylvester yourself and ask her? Or, better yet." She walked over, settling into her normal seat at the front of the risers, crossing her legs and smiling at Puck next to her, "Wait until practice after class today?"

Narrowing her eyes at her, Quinn took the seat next to her. "I don't know what you're playing at," she lowered her voice, leaning over to continue her warning as Mr. Schue entered the choir room, "But I aim to find out."

"Good," Rachel answered, arranging her skirt so it more adequately covered her, "I wouldn't have it any other way."


The announcement Sue made to introduce Rachel to her new squad was pretty anti-climatic. Slapping her hands onto Rachel's shoulders, she'd thrust her forward. "Listen up," she raised her voice, "You have a new member. Have fun breaking her in."

Smiling even with that particular introduction, Rachel threw herself into learning every routine Sue threw at her, suddenly very happy for her years of dance classes that left her ready to assimilate sudden information. Even as Santana's resentful hands closed around her, pushing her up towards the top of the pyramid, Brittany's hands helping her up higher and higher, and Quinn's hands locking around her wrists, keeping her on the same level as her, Rachel managed to keep her smile on her face. And, somehow, she managed to find the fun in the experience, thrilling each time she found herself face to face with Quinn.

If she was being honest with herself, that was the reason why she'd joined the Cheerios. Quinn…

But the more they practiced, the more Rachel found herself learning the moves and letting herself be used by the lower squads, the more she was hoisted by Santana's capable shoulders. Santana's hands would slide along her body, wrapping confidently around her ankles and hoist her higher.

As often as Quinn would pull her higher, Santana would push her higher.

Confused, not sure what the dark expressions crossing both girls' faces meant, Rachel took her break chatting with Brittany.

Still, that didn't help.

After she drained her water, Brittany turned to Rachel. "Rache," she cocked her head, reaching out to touch Rachel's shoulder, "Do you know what you're doing?"

Rachel froze. Affixing a smile on her face, she smiled at the blonde. "What do you mean?"

But Brittany narrowed her eyes at her. "You're playing a dangerous game," she leaned in, hands coming up to tighten Rachel's ponytail, "And it's not very fair for each girl."

"What…?"

"Uhn-un." Shaking her head, Brittany poked Rachel's nose. "You know exactly what you're doing," she lowered her voice, sliding her hand so it cupped it Rachel's chin, using her hand to shake Rachel's head back and forth, "Just know someone will get hurt."

"Brittany…?" Rachel asked, staring at her.

Brittany shook her head, thumb absently tracing her cheek. "You're too cute, Rache," she gave her a pointed look, "And you need to realize that."

Rachel lowered her gaze. "I… I didn't mean to."

Brittany sighed. Pushing Rachel's chin up, she smiled. "You know that's obvious, too?"

Rachel shook her head. Reaching out to rest her hands on Brittany's hips, she smiled. "Brittany," she gently pushed the blonde away, straightening as her hand fell from her chin, "What am I supposed to do?"

Brittany rolled her eyes. "Don't ask me," she wagged her hand, bending down to refill her water bottle in the water fountain again, "I'm not Santana or Quinn. I'm Brittany… Bitch."

"Right," Rachel smiled to herself, a smile that barely touched her lips, "Right…"


By the end of that first practice, Rachel had realized that she was, quite literally, playing with fire.

Her new identity as a member of the William McKinley High Cheerios had brought her closer to Quinn and Santana than she had ever dreamed of, her initial reason for joining the Cheerios getting lost with each passing moment getting bounced back and forth between the two girls. It may have been easier to believe she had joined to catch the eye of a certain blonde than admitting she was enjoying the attention of a certain brunette, but the longer time that passed, the more times she was pushed between Quinn and Santana, Rachel was becoming less and less sure. Her heart wouldn't slow down, and her mind was beginning to get confused with each time she met darkened brown and hazel eyes.

"I told you," Brittany breathed into her ear during one certain move, "Now, what are you going to do?"

Staring back at her, Rachel wavered in the air. "I don't know," she mouthed back, barely managing to stay balanced as Brittany hoisted her in the air, "I don't know."

Cradling her as the move ended, Rachel coming back to the ground, Brittany nodded. "This is the first practice," she whispered, waiting until they came together again to continue, "You have time."

"I have time," Rachel repeated, eyes moving past Quinn and Santana, heart sinking, "I really hope I have time."