Hearing Rachel sing had been the turning point for Quinn. She now knew, without a single doubt, that she wanted the usually ill-dressed brunette, not that she'd had much doubt before, just denial. Quinn wasn't stupid. She knew in order to have any chance of any semblance of a relationship with the shorter girl that she would have to change. Well at least on the outside; she'd never really been the person everyone thought she was, but now she had to stop hiding. At the very least, from Rachel.

Quinn silently thanked God when Coach Sylvester ordered Santana, Brittany and herself to infiltrate the Glee Club a week later. She hadn't yet spoken to the talented singer, but she was sure that Rachel must have noticed the lack of slushie facials she'd been receiving since Quinn had implemented the ban on her after the Glee auditions.

Again, Quinn wasn't stupid. She knew everyone was dying to know why she had taken Rachel "Manhands" Berry off the chopping block, but then, she was Quinn Fabray, and no one dared to test her ruling. Well, Santana might, but Quinn was thankful that, aside from a little groaning and grumbling, she hadn't said much about it.

Quinn saw everyone's jaws drop in disbelief when she entered the room with her top two Cheerios at her side. She'd expected that. Who would've thought that the three of them would willingly join Glee? Nobody. It was, after all, one of the marks of loserdom, at least at McKinley.

What Quinn hadn't expected was to see her beard of a boyfriend looking at Rachel with those damn puppy dog eyes. Thankfully, Finn had had the decency to look ashamed and shrink back into his seat upon seeing his girlfriend.

"What are you doing here?" someone had asked. She wasn't really paying attention to who had spoken, nor did she really care. All she knew was that it hadn't been Rachel nor Finn who had asked, and therefore she didn't give a damn.

"We're here for Glee Club!" Brittany answered whichever loser had voiced the question that had been in all of their minds. Her enthusiasm was generally contagious, though everyone was really too guarded for it to catch at the moment.

The taller blonde Cheerio was truly excited for Glee. She held a childish innocence that none of the other Cheerios had. None of the other students had it either, she saw the world in a different way. A better way.

"Why now?" Rachel asked, her eyes narrowing.

Quinn could tell that they all knew why they were here. Coach Sylvester hadn't made a secret of her distaste for the Glee Club and that her budget was being cut because of it. It was common knowledge that she wanted to destroy the club.

Santana shrugged nonchalantly, "We wanted to audition, but Coach Sylvester said she'd kick us off the Cheerios if we did. We finally got her to change her mind."

It was a lie. Well it was partly a lie. Santana was really the only one who hadn't wanted to audition. Okay, Quinn hadn't either, but that had changed when she heard Rachel sing.

Rachel didn't look convinced. In fact, Quinn was sure that, by the look on Rachel's face, she must know, or at least, she must think that she knows, that Coach Sylvester had asked them to spy on the Glee kids. Which, in fairness, is true.

Of course, what Rachel didn't know was that Quinn wanted no part in Sue Sylvester's antics to annihilate the Glee Club. Quinn wasn't going to offer up any information unless her spot as Head Cheerio was threatened. What Rachel didn't know was that she was the reason Quinn had wanted to join the Glee Club.

"Can they even sing?"

Quinn and Santana's heads spun around to glare at the girl who'd asked the question. The girl who'd had the nerve to question their abilities. Granted, singing wasn't what they were known for, but nobody questioned the HBIC's.

Mercedes cowered under the intensity of their glares.

Quinn sees Santana nod her head ever so slightly. In fact, if she hadn't been looking for it, she wouldn't have been able to tell.

"Mr. Schue," Quinn addressed the curly-haired teacher, "If we may?"

Mr. Schuester nodded, "Of course, the floor is all yours, girls."

Quinn and the girls had decided that they would all sing separate songs. She let the other Cheerios go first, saving her own performance for last. She really wanted Rachel to remember it.

She sat down and watched as Santana made her way to the center of the room.

Something always brings me back to you

It never takes too long
No matter what I say or do
I still feel you here 'til the moment I'm gone

Quinn watches as the room goes silent. Santana had achieved her goal. Not only did the whole room know she could sing, she was also singing a more tender song, which nobody really expected from her. Well, aside from Brittany and Quinn.

You hold me without touch

You keep me without chains

I never wanted anything so much

Than to drown in your love and not feel your rain

Set me free, leave me be

I don't want to fall another moment into your gravity

Here I am and I stand so tall

Just the way I'm supposed to be

But you're on to me and all over me

Quinn loves being one of the few people who gets to see this side of Santana, though it's more Brittany's privilege than her own. They should consider themselves lucky to be able to see this.

You loved me cause I'm fragile

When I thought I was strong

But you touch me for a little while

And all my fragile strength is gone

Set me free, leave me be

I don't want to fall another moment into your gravity

Here I am and I stand so tall

Just the way I'm supposed to be
But you're on to me and all over me

I live here on my knees

As I try to make you see

That you're everything I think I need

Here on the ground

But you're neither friend nor foe

Though I can't seem to let you go

The one thing that I still know

Is that you're keeping me down

Even Quinn was quite impressed with Latina's vocal range. Quinn knew she could sing, they'd all sang together on many occasions, but hearing her by herself, without Brittany or Quinn, it was different.

You're keeping me down

You're on to me

On to me

And all over

Something always brings me back to you

It never takes too long

Silence fell over the room. Quinn was sure that nobody wanted to be the first to speak, though Brittany was sporting a huge grin, probably mirroring her own.

Finally Mr. Schuester broke the silence.

"Wow, Santana, that was amazing! We're glad to have you, welcome to Glee!"

Brittany ran up to Santana, wrapping her arms around the brunette and whispering what Quinn could only hope was some sort of congratulatory statement, but was probably really a sexual suggestion that they would play out later. Santana smiled before taking a seat, effectively switching places with the other blonde.

Quinn was excited to see what Brittany had come up with. Brittany was a good singer, but she was a phenomenal dancer. Brittany was Quinn's go-to-girl when she needed help choreographing the Cheerios routines.

I feel like I've been locked up tight

For a century of lonely nights

Waiting for someone to release me

You're licking your lips
And blowing kisses my way
But that don't mean I'm gonna give it away

Baby, baby, baby

Oh, my body's saying let's go
Oh, but my heart is saying no

If you wanna be with me

Baby there's a price to pay

I'm a genie in a bottle

Gotta rub me the right way

If you wanna be with me
I can make your wish come true

You gotta make a big impression

Gotta like what you do

Brittany was killing this. Quinn loved watching the girl move, not in a perverted way. Okay, maybe occasionally in a perverted way, but Quinn was sure she had that effect on everyone. But it was more that, when she danced, she was so graceful and elegant and mesmerizing. It was beautiful, even when she was doing a more sultry dance like the one she was doing now.

I'm a genie in a bottle baby

Gotta rub me the right way honey

I'm a genie in a bottle baby

Come, come, come on and let me out

The music's fading and the lights down low

Just one more dance and then we're good to go

Waiting for someone who needs me

Hormones racing at the speed of light

But that don't mean it's gotta be tonight

Baby, baby, baby

Oh, my body's saying let's go

Oh, but my heart is saying no

If you wanna be with me

Baby there's a price to pay

I'm a genie in a bottle

Gotta rub me the right way

If you wanna be with me

I can make your wish come true

Just come and set me free baby

And I'll be with you

I'm a genie in a bottle baby

Gotta rub me the right way honey

I'm a genie in a bottle baby

Come, come, come on and let me out

I'm a genie in a bottle baby

Gotta rub me the right way honey

I'm a genie in a bottle baby

Come, come, come on and let me out

Oh, my body's saying let's go

Oh, but my heart is saying no

If you wanna be with me

Baby there's a price to pay

I'm a genie in a bottle

Gotta rub me the right way

If you wanna be with me

I can make your wish come true

Just come and set me free baby

And I'll be with you

If you wanna be with me

Baby there's a price to pay

I'm a genie in a bottle

Gotta rub me the right way

If you wanna be with me

I can make your wish come true

Just come and set me free baby

And I'll be with you

I'm a genie in a bottle baby

Come, come, come on and let me out

Quinn was so proud of her best friends, they'd performed amazingly, not that she'd expected anything less. But now it was her turn. She couldn't help but let her thoughts drift to Rachel and whether or not she would like the song she'd chosen. She hoped Rachel would like it. She'd spent a long time trying to figure out what she should sing, hoping to impress the talented diva.


Although she didn't want to admit it, Rachel knew that they needed the Cheerios. Even with the Cheerios, they didn't have enough people for sectionals, but on top of needing a body count, the Cheerios were good. Santana had surprised her the most. Rachel had figured she would sing some upbeat Top 40 number, but she had gone with something more slow and deep. And Brittany, her vocals were good, but she could definitely help Mr. Schue with choreography because frankly, his was outdated and not very good to begin with.

Rachel couldn't help but wonder what song Quinn had chosen to sing, and what her voice sounded like. She knew that Quinn was likely to have a nice voice as well. Of course, Quinn had everything.

Sure, she was slightly surprised to see the Cheerios had joined them, but at the same time, they were Coach Sylvester's lackeys. That's the only way Coach Sylvester would allow them to join.

Rachel watched Quinn as she walked to the center of the choir room. Quinn was one of those people who it was hard to take your eyes off of. She commanded attention, and not just with her beauty, but simply her presence.

Everything has its season

Everything has its time

Show me a reason

And I'll soon show you a rhyme

Cats fit on the windowsill

Children fit in the snow

Why do I feel I don't fit in anywhere I go?

Rivers belong where they can ramble

Eagles belong where they can fly

I've got to be where my spirit can run free

Got to find my corner of the sky

Rachel marveled at Quinn's song choice. She had no idea that Quinn knew musicals such as Pippin. And watching the blonde perform the song, Rachel realized she really got into it. Rachel wasn't sure if she was just a good actress or if she was actually relating to the song, but she could sense Quinn's vulnerability in her voice.

It couldn't be that Quinn related to the song, Rachel decided. Quinn Fabray was the definition of fitting in.

Every man has his daydreams

Every man has his goal

People like the way dreams have

Of sticking to the soul

Thunderclouds have their lightning

Nightingale's have their song

And don't you see I want my life

To be something more than long

Rivers belong where they can ramble

Eagles belong where they can fly

I've got to be where my spirit can run free

Got to find my corner of the sky

So many men seem destined

To settle for something small

But I won't rest until I know I'll have it all

So don't ask where I'm going

Just listen when I'm gone

And far away you'll hear me singing

Softly to the dawn

Rivers belong where they can ramble

Eagles belong where they can fly

I've got to be where my spirit can run free

Got to find my corner of the sky

They were all talented singers. They weren't Rachel Berry talented, but they were good.

Rachel thought she saw Quinn wink at her, but she must have imagined it. Quinn hated Rachel and Rachel hated her right back. Rachel didn't know what she'd done to warrant the blonde's hate, but something told her that you didn't need to do anything for the blonde to hate you.

Quinn smiled at Rachel, which made Rachel feel uneasy. She almost seemed friendly. That couldn't be right though. Then again, based on Quinn's performance, she was a talented actress, which meant she could appear friendly in order to deflect from some scheme of humiliation that they have planned. It seemed the more likely option.

The more Rachel thought about it, the more something seemed off. No. Something was definitely off. The last time she had been slushied was the day of Glee auditions. Rachel had angered Quinn that day. She remembered laughing after being slushied, and the intense glare from Quinn. Rachel reasoned that Quinn must be planning some big form of humiliation for her, and therefore she must be wary.

And so Rachel was very wary, particularly when she found herself alone with Quinn after Glee. She wondered what the blonde was still doing here. She just wanted her gone so she could practice in peace, but the cheerleader didn't seem to be going anywhere. Rachel could feel her eyes on her while she was sorting through various sheet music looking for a song that spoke to her.

Rachel couldn't take it anymore, she didn't understand Quinn's presence, so she turned around to yell at her. To ask her what the hell she was still doing here. But Quinn spoke as soon as Rachel turned around.

"Your voice is incredible," Quinn said. She sounded nervous. It couldn't be though, why would Quinn Fabray be nervous? Especially when it was only Rachel in the room with her.

Rachel was shocked to say the least. She hadn't expected a compliment. She hadn't expected anything at all.

"Quinn…I…uh…thank you?" Rachel said, not really sure of anything at the moment.

Quinn pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket. She slipped it nervously in her fingers before handing it to Rachel.

Rachel took the note from Quinn's hands. This was weird. Why was Quinn handing her a note? Why was Quinn here? Rachel slowly unfolded the note.

Rachel,

Coach Sylvester has bugged the choir room. Can we talk away from Coach's prying ears? Please?

Quinn

Rachel was speechless for a moment, looking franticly between the note and Quinn. What could Quinn Fabray possibly want to talk to Rachel about? It's not like they'd ever spoken before today.

Quinn was the one to break the silence.

"I swear on my popularity that this is not a trick or a trap of any sort," Quinn promised.

Rachel thought it over. Quinn had sworn on her popularity, which everyone knew meant a great deal to her, so Rachel could tell she was being serious.

Rachel looked Quinn in the eye and nodded once. They collected their belongings and as they were leaving the choir room Quinn said, "Your voice really is amazing."


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