Chapter 2

By the time Friday morning came around, Quinn nearly jumped out of bed. She knew if she closed her eyes for even a millisecond she would fall back asleep until noon. And today was a jam-packed day. She strategically made sure she all of her homework, lunch, extra snacks, clothes and everything she needed for the play-off game tonight. She glanced at the clock as she ate her cereal while reviewing her History study guide. The front door opened and she didn't have to think twice as to who it was.

"Good morning Ba-a-altimore..." Rachel belted as she closed the door behind her, clad in a red and white dress with tights and flats. The pattern of the dress looked like….horses. Very well could be unicorns. Quinn still didn't understand Rachel's clothing choices. (But she was never limited on dresses and skirts to borrow from her, that was for sure.)The brunette held two steaming cups in her hand. "One chai tea latte for you, my dear." Quinn smiled and graciously accepted it.

"Thank you," she said as she took a sip. Ever since Rachel got her drivers license at the end of sophomore year, they've had weekly coffee dates on Friday mornings before school.

"Sleep alright?" Rachel asked, helping herself to a banana. Quinn nodded.

"Are you coming to Sam's tonight?"

"If I'm invited..." Quinn had to hold in her groan. Rachel was always like this. She had convinced herself that everyone in the glee club hated her outside of glee.

"Rach, don't be like that. Of course you are. Santana texted me, specifically, saying, well here….let me read it to you." Rachel stared at her banana as Quinn scrolled through the messages. "Tell Berry she has to come so she can be our DD." Quinn bit her lip after realizing what the message said.

"Oh so they only want me for my sober-ness." Quinn glanced at her with a raised eyebrow and when Rachel heard no response she turned her head to meet the blonde's eyes. "Ok, ok. I'll go. But I'm sticking by your side the whole time." Quinn smiled with accomplishment. She always pushed Rachel to be more social and do more typical high school things. She never wanted to go to football or basketball games and always skipped assemblies to do homework in the library. She had finally convinced her last month to go to a bonfire at Puck's cabin at the lake and Rachel started to cry when she was offered a drink. Baby steps, Quinn would have to remind herself. Rachel isn't like you. She isn't like most girls, actually. But she loved her for exactly who she was.

"Shall we?" Rachel held her keys up and Quinn double checked the clock, nodding.

. . .

At lunch that day, Rachel had to skip out on being social and go to the library to her car to practice her French oral report. Even though Quinn assured her that she was completely fine after she rehearsed it with Quinn in the car his morning three times, Rachel was a perfectionist and she wasn't going to stress her out anymore by demanding that she come eat lunch with her.

"Hey," Santana said as Quinn sat down with her lunch. "Where's Berry?"

"Studying," Quinn replied.

"She coming tonight?" Quinn nodded. Puck swallowed his food and leaned in close so he didn't have to talk very loud.

"Alright," he began. "So Sam's parents left last night and we raided the liquor cabinet. We're set. And if we win and feel the need to celebrate more, I got my fake in the mail yesterday." Mike, Finn, and Sam high fived each other as Santana, Brittany and Quinn rolled their eyes.

"And you all can stay at my place if you want. My parents won't be back until late Sunday night."

"That's okay," Santana said with a disgusted face. "My clean shower and queen size bed sounds a little better than Sam's couch with a room full of sweaty football players." Sam shrugged.

"Suit yourself."

Lunch continued with the typical boy-girl banter. Quinn was feeling somewhat incomplete without her better half. She grabbed her phone as Brittany began to tell a story about her weirdo cat.

Come to the last 10 minutes of lunch. I'm bored without you.

"And then he started reading my diary! Quinn…Quinn are you listening?" Quinn lifted her head up and sighed.

"Not really."

"Are you okay? You've been acting weird for the last few days," Santana muttered through bites of her salad.

"I couldn't hear that with the entire garden in your teeth. Swallow first, then speak to me." Santana rolled her eyes and went back to eating.

"That's what she's said," Finn called from below the table. Quinn groaned and stood up.

"I'll see you after school," Quinn said quietly. Santana nodded, knowing that Quinn was easily fed up with the guys in their group of friends. She walked out of the cafeteria and nearly ran into Rachel on the way in.

"Hey," she said as Quinn pulled her back into the hallway. "Where are you going? I was coming to sit with you." The two walked a few feet from the hallway down towards some lockers.

"I just don't want to be around them right now," Quinn replied. Rachel interlaced her fingers with Quinn and the blonde felt her heart rate pick up.

"Quinnie," Rachel whispered. Quinn's eyes were cast towards the ground and Rachel gently lifted Quinn's chin with her fingers. "What's going on with you?"

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Quinn moaned and light set her head on the locker as she pulled away from Rachel's grasp.

"Because you aren't acting like yourself. Is there something you want to talk about?"

"No…" Quinn started. She caught Rachel's skeptical eyes and let out a deep breathe. "I don't know…I don't know. I'm not angry or mad or anything."

"You're just…"

Quinn looked down at Rachel's flats. They looked familiar.

"Are those mine?"

"No they're mine, but you have them in blue," Rachel replied.

"Oh."

"Don't change the subject. We were talking about your feelings." Rachel was very adamant about talking about your feelings. It was one of her favorite pastimes. If the whole Broadway thing didn't work out, she would make an excellent therapist.

"Quinn's feelings are fine. Quinn's excited for tonight. And to be done with today." Rachel smiled slightly.

"Alright, alright. Rachel won't push Quinn to talk about her feelings yet. We can do that over brunch tomorrow."

"Only if you'll make me bacon again." Quinn replied.

"If I do, you owe me big time. You know I don't do that willingly."

"We can watch Funny Girl and snuggle all day…."

"Deal."

. . .

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, to the Western Ohio Regional Semi-finals. Tonight, the McKinley High Titans take on the Carmel Spartans! If the Titans can clench the victory tonight, they will make history!"

It would have been a miracle. But it wasn't. In fact, they got clobbered. Everyone could tell by half time that they weren't going to get any better. Sam had gotten knocked down and twisted his knee and was out for the rest of the game. They threw Mike in to replace him but he wasn't strong enough to take on the running back that was coming towards him. Puck and Finn sat down on the bench together and started crying. Puck got angry by the 2nd half and nearly punched a guy in the face that started to tackle him. During the 3rd quarter, Quinn got a break from cheering and went to huddle with Rachel and her warm tea.

"Hey hey," Mercedes said as Quinn joined them up on the bleaches. Rachel handed her steaming cup to Quinn who took it and plopped down next to her on the cold, metal bench. Rachel wrapped her tiny arm around the blonde's shivering shoulder and gave a light squeeze.

"Aw, look at you two." Kurt commented from down the row.

"Married couple status," Tina added from his side. Rachel rolled her eyes a little and Quinn leaned her head on Rachel's shoulder before she was called back down to the track to finish cheering, even though everybody knew they were going to lose.

The Cheerios took this time to perform one of their more complicated pyramid stunts. The crowd went crazy; the cheerleaders were the highlight of the game anyway. Rachel couldn't keep her eyes off the blonde standing front and center. They shared winks and smiles every so often as their eyes casually went back and forth between each other and the game.

. . .

When the game was over the team went into the locker room. Quinn, Brittany and Santana went to grab their bags by the bench as Rachel walked down the stairs to greet them.

"We're gonna take one car because Sam's driveway is pretty small," Santana announced. Rachel nodded, knowing that meant her car was going to be driven. They all piled into Rachel's Toyota and hit the road. They made a pit stop at Brittany's so the three cheerleaders could change into some comfier clothes. They all chose yoga pants and plunging v-neck tops and Rachel already felt a little awkward in her peacoat, dress and tights.

"What is it?" Quinn asked as she took her hair out of the ponytail. Rachel shrugged and leaned against Santana's wall as the other two touched-up their make-up. "Do you want to go home?" Quinn asked a little more quietly. Rachel glanced over and met Santana's eyes in the mirror of her vanity and shook her head at Quinn.

"I'm fine," Rachel said. Quinn reached out to give her a hug and nearly collapsed into the embrace. Rachel squeezed Quinn tightly and set her chin on the blonde's shoulder. Quinn had learned long ago, that all Rachel needed sometimes was a hug.

"Alright lovebirds," Santana announced breaking them apart. "Let's go. I gotsta get myself drunk."

They arrived at Sam's house not too much longer after the guys had gotten back. They had all showered at school and were sitting around the couch watching the highlights of the game on the local news. Finn and Mike were all slowly sipping beer as the announcing replayed some plays they had made rather horribly.

"This fucking blows," Finn declared slamming his beer down. He leaned forward and placed his hands in his hair. "Fuck." Mike nodded in agreement but stayed silent.

"Well this is depressing," Santana declared as she, Brittany, Quinn and Rachel entered the basement. "Come on, let's get wasted and forget about the whole thing."

"Yeah, its over now so you really can't do anything," Brittany added.

"Is that your solution to everything, Santana? Getting drunk?" Rachel added from behind.

"Berry, I didn't ask you for side commentary." Rachel shrunk back at Santana's words and almost hid behind Quinn. The blonde noticed and pulled her forward gently, rubbing her back a little.

"San," Quinn started. Santana noticed Rachel's reaction.

"Sorry, I guess," she muttered. Quinn made sure Rachel was alright before helping herself to a drink.

. . .

The "party," if one could even call it that, was well underway a few hours later and almost everyone was absolutely trashed. When Puck and Mike came back with some more liquor they had just gone to town. The boys had all screamed a little about the game and even shed a tear (but the girls were sure that was just from the alcohol.) They were simply just partying now, enjoying the fact that they were done with sprint drills and 4-hour practices. They were all over each other in the corner of the big couch. Rachel was sitting with a slightly sobered up Finn and Mike as the rest of the party played beer pong. Rachel had a clear view of Quinn and the blonde reassured her nervous friend that whenever she wanted to leave, they would call Santana and Brittany a cab and they could go.

"You sure you don't want a sip?" Finn offered his blue plastic cup to Rachel who politely declined.

"No thank you, I'm not interested in partaking in the juvenile act of underage drinking."

"For someone so hot, you use wa-a-ay too big of words." Rachel rolled her eyes as Finn tried to inch closer to her. He had been trying to get into her pants since 7th grade, when she got boobs. However, she was far from interested. She glanced to her left where the table was and saw Puck standing behind Quinn, trying to grind into her with the beat of the music that was playing. Quinn turned around and pushed him away but couldn't hide her smile. She was a very affectionate drunk. The two had been dancing around each other flirting for the better part of a few weeks. If Rachel had it her way, she and Puck would be together. But, she honestly didn't even find the guys in the glee club that interesting; more of a thing where if she had to pick one, she'd pick him. And she wouldn't take a guy from Quinn. They were all womanizer's and dated around. She just wanted to live in a shoebox apartment with a kitten and Quinn and live happily ever after. She caught herself in her train of thought. Did she really just think that? Rachel pulled out her phone to start texting Kurt. She was pretty bored. Quinn had told her people would include her but if she wasn't going to partake in drinking the only way she could be included was making sure people didn't die on their way home. Maybe she should hang out with Kurt and Tina and Mercedes more often.

"Hey beautiful," Quinn said coming over and sitting down next to her. Rachel immediately felt her heart warm. "Go away frankenteen." Finn rolled his eyes, stood up to stretch and get himself another beer. Quinn lifted her legs and swung them onto Rachel's lap as the brunette rubbed them slowly. "Are you having a good time?"

"Not really," Rachel replied. Quinn frowned and gently stroked her friend's cheek.

"I'm sorry honey pie," Quinn said. "Anything I can do to make you feel better?" Rachel looked into her friend's piercing hazel eyes and momentarily was captured in them. She smiled and took Quinn's hand.

"No," Rachel replied. "But thanks babe."

"Oooh, some more girl on girl over there?" Sam called. Puck took a sip of his beer and nodded.

"I'd be into that."

"Ew," Rachel replied. She shook her head and looked back to Quinn who was now staring at her, similarly to how she had just been. "What?"

Before she knew it, Quinn's lips were on hers in a passionate, deep kiss. When she pulled away the entire room burst into drunken cheers. Rachel's mouth slowly opened in awe and Quinn's face just filled with a smile.

"That was fun!" Quinn said. It was purely alcohol talking now. She leaned in for another one and Rachel scooted back against the couch.

"Quinn, stop!" Rachel cried. The guys behind her along with Santana and Brittany had started laughing and moving on from the situation. She was shaking? Her breathing began to get a little heavier. She wanted to leave. Right now. But she wasn't leaving Quinn with these people.

"Sorry," Quinn said, her cheeks turning a bright shade of red. "Sorry, Rach. You have really nice lips though."

"Hot," Santana added from the other end of the couch near the table.

"Can we go please? I don't want to be here." Quinn, in her drunken state, didn't really seem a reason to argue and stood up, rocking a little. Rachel grabbed the side of her arm to steady her balance and the two grabbed their coats before bidding goodbye.

"Mike, can you please sure San and Britt get home alright?" Mike was the most sober of them all and assured Rachel that he would. Rachel help guide her tipsy friend up the stairs, out of the house and into the car. She let out a huge sigh of relief when they were both safely buckled.

"Sorry, Rach," Quinn said quietly as they were driving. She may have been drunk but she wasn't that drunk. She was eating plenty throughout the night that Rachel was sure was absorbing some of the alcohol. She might have some clue about what day it was.

"It's okay Quinnie," Rachel said as they pulled into her driveway. Her mind was racing. Quinn, her best friend in the entire world, who she would take a few dozen bullets for, who has seen her at her very best and very worst, just kissed her; on the lips. They shared friendly kisses on the forehead and cheek but it was always a sign of endearment and nothing else. This…this didn't feel like nothing else. She wasn't sure how to think about it either. This whole thing was very confusing. It was just a kiss. She was drunk, Rachel. Just a kiss.

A kiss that felt a whole lot like more than just a kiss.

She parked the car and sat in it for a second. She looked over and Quinn had fallen asleep. One of her dads was on a business trip and the other was visiting his sister for the weekend so Rachel had the house to herself. She gently woke Quinn up and helped her inside and into her bed. After making sure the girl was cozy and safe, she went downstairs to have some fruit and watch an episode of My Strange Addiction, before getting back into bed, and getting back into bed. It took her a few hours to fall asleep once she got back into bed. The kiss kept running through her mind.

. . .

Saturday morning arrived with light drizzle and grey skies. Quinn's eyes cracked open and her cheek touched the fuzzy pillow that her head was resting on. Those were Rachel's pillows. She knew exactly where she was. She expected the bed to be empty next to her as Rachel was a very early riser, but when she turned over slightly she was met with her best friend, lightly snoring. She felt her head begin to throb and she sat up slowly, realizing she was still in her clothes and make-up from last night. She carefully and quietly climbed out of bed, grabbed some clothes from Rachel's closet and went into the shower. She wanted to go pounce on the bed and wake Rachel up but her hangover was telling her otherwise. She went down to the kitchen table and had a large class of water and some ibuprofen. The last thing she remembered from last night was Puck trying to grind her while they were playing beer pong. She shook her head as she looked through the People magazine that was sitting on the kitchen table. Hiram always grabbed them from his office for Quinn. As she was reading about Brad and Angelina's new baby, she heard the bottom stair creak, noting an extra presence would be entering the room.

"Morning," Quinn said turning to look at Rachel. Instead of seeing the bouncing ball of sunshine that normally greeted her in the morning, she saw Rachel in her pensive, annoyed state. She was wearing her pink fuzzy bathrobe and had it tightly wrapped around her, her arms folded over her chest. Rachel gave a slight smile.

"Hey," she said coming to sit down next to Quinn.

"You alright?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Quinn closed the magazine and gave a confused look. "Quinn…you kissed me last night."

"What? No I didn't!" Quinn exclaimed.

"Yes, you did. You might have been really drunk but you did."

"Well…was I good?" Rachel slapped Quinn on the arm and rolled her eyes. "I'm kidding. I'm sorry I don't remember doing that….are you sure you didn't have anything to drink?"

"Quinn," Rachel sighed standing up. "You're being really insensitive right now."

"Rach," Quinn said, turning around in her chair. Rachel was obviously over reacting, as per usual, but something seemed wrong. "Relax. Can we be rational about this please? I still have a headache." She stood up to go over to her friend and wrapped her arms around her waist. Rachel slowly leaned into Quinn's embrace and Quinn hugged her gently. She rubbed the tiny brunette's back and allowed her to calm down. She brought her over to the living room couch and allowed her to take some time to take some deep breaths.

"Sorry," Rachel whispered. Quinn smiled.

"It's okay," Quinn replied. "I'm sorry if I don't remember kissing you last night….it obviously was just an accident and I'm…I'm really sorry. I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"Thanks," Rachel muttered quietly but sincerely.

"I love you honey pie," Quinn said trying to look into her friends eyes. She looked back into them and was struck by even tear-filled eyes, how beautiful and captivating they were. Her friend was so, so stunning. She was the most beautiful person in the entire world.

"Love you too Quinnie," Rachel replied. She really did love her. A lot. And only now, after nearly 10 years of friendship, was she questioning how deep her love was.

Thank you so much for the response to Chapter 1- I hope this doesn't disappoint! Thank you for the reviews/alerts/favorites, they mean a lot! Please enjoy.