A/N: Here's a little more in gratitude to all of those who are reading this story. Thank you so much for the comments and follows and everything. Please excuse any mistakes.

Santana stopped herself from staring at Quinn as the blonde walked down the cafeteria working the room. They were in school but Quinn had been treating every chance like it was some sort of networking opportunity. She was working her way up the social ladder in the first week of school being back on, and Santana was involuntarily helping her.

For some reason, now Quinn was associating herself with her even though Santana had barely talked to her.

"You're staring." Brittany's teasing voice brought her out of her thoughts.

"Correction, I'm glaring," Santana said as she popped a tater-tot into her mouth, immediately cringing once she realized that that was going to be her only food for the day. These cheerleading diets were killing her.

"Still staring." Brittany always could look straight through her and understand her more than she could understand herself. It was weird sometimes how she just seemed to know, but Santana didn't mind, "Why do you hate her so much?"

Maybe she didn't know her that much. Santana smiled to herself as she pushed her lunch tray away from her, "I don't hate her. I hate Berry. I dislike Fabray."

"Why?" Brittany rested her head on side of her wrist as she watched Quinn socialize, "She's pretty and smart and nice-"

"Yeah yeah yeah, but that doesn't mean that I have to like her." Santana folded her arms, "Why is everyone so obsessed with her? She's not that great."

"Who's not that great?" Quinn's voice suddenly asked as she slipped into a seat next to the Latina.

"You," Santana said barely missing a beat. She watched as Quinn's eyebrows shot up before the girl regathered herself and smiled.

"Since we're already talking about me, I guess I can bring up the great news," Quinn waited a moment, for dramatics, "I got put on the cheerleading team."

"The Cheerios?" Brittany asked excitedly. She was always happy for more people to join the team.

"Yeah." Quinn responded positively to Brittany's excitement, "Captain spot."

"Wait, the captain's spot? You just got put on." Santana had been gunning for that spot for awhile and now she was sure that Sue was keeping it away from her because of a race issue.

"It's pretty crazy, right?" Quinn looked at Santana expectedly and flinched as Santana stood up.

Santana stumbled over her words, anger trying to control her voice, "This is bullshit! That spot was mine."

She must have said that louder than she had wanted to as people started to look over.

Quinn looked around before responding with a low voice, "I was obviously more qualified. Sue told me herself."

"Well, she'd obviously wrong."

Quinn gave a cheeky smile, "She couldn't be far from it."

Santana opened her mouth to talk the blonde down a few steps but she didn't know much about her to do so. Maybe she was more "qualified." She wanted to push her buttons and make her upset as Santana felt, but the brunette didn't know any of them. She wanted to hit her but Quinn was so goddamn pretty.

So she stalked off, out of the cafeteria and into the hallways. This wasn't over. Quinn couldn't just come in here and take over. She couldn't come in here and change everything.

XXXX

Santana used to really enjoy cheer practice, but now with Quinn bossing everyone around every day, it was a drag. She didn't make it easy for Quinn, rolling her eyes and taking her time to the spots she was ordered to. However, it was exhausting pouting at every practice, so Santana thought of another plan.

While was Quinn was distracted telling one of the cheerleaders about how terrible her dismount was, Santana strolled over to Brittany who was folding origami on a bench.

"I have an idea." Santana said once she approached her.

Brittany looked up, unimpressed, "About what?"

"About this Quinn problem." Santana sat next to Brittany and looked around to make sure that no one was listening, "Are you in or are you out?"

Brittany set down her origami, "Of course I'm in but you have to tell me what your plan is first."

"Look around, Britt." Santana gestured at the rest of the Cheerios, some were being yelled at by Quinn while others were trying and failing to practice the routine, "Remember when cheerleading use to be fun? Now everyone is on the verge of crying. And Coach isn't even here."

Brittany took a moment to look around before scrunching up her face, "I guess you're right. It's not that fun anymore. But Quinn is just trying to make us good."

"Or is she?" Santana pointed in front of them, "Look over there. She literally just made that girl cry. How is crying suppose to make us do better?"

Brittany shrugged, "She said she was going to shape us into being as good as her."

"But she's not even that good." Santana lied. Quinn seemed to be good at everything.

She was good at everything from academics to cheerleading. Santana had never seen a girl get that much air in a dismount like that girl had. She was a hard worker and it was understandable that she was working the team hard as well, she just wanted them to be the best.

The thing about Quinn was that even when she was working the team to the bone she was with them working just as hard. Even on the hottest of days when Santana could barely run, Quinn was right there leading the group. It was really admirable.

And on those days, when Santana complained the most and (in her opinion) gave her best material, Quinn always laughed. Sure it annoyed the blonde, but she ended up always laughing with Santana or cracking a joke back at her. It was nice to hear her laugh after a tough day of practice and to see her smile when Santana couldn't bring herself to.

In its own sort of way, it was nice having Quinn around.

Santana cleared her throat, bringing her back from reality. She wasn't here for that kind of thing, she was here to be the best and right now she needed to remember her plan, "Look around, Britt. Quinn taking the fun out of cheerleading."

Brittany sighed, "I guess you're right. You can't spell cheerleading without fun."

"I mean, you can but yeah." Santana leaned in and lowered her voice, "Now we just gotta get the whole team on our side and then we can start a coup."

Brittany scrunched up her face.

"Not like a bird." Santana clarified, "More like we'll overthrow her."

Brittany's face didn't change but she nodded, "Okay, Sanny. If you say so."

Santana rose to her feet and encouraged Brittany to follow, "Now go and spread the word to everyone except for Quinn."

Brittany nodded and headed towards the girls who were on the verge of tears, while Santana had to stop herself from maniacally laughing.

Hopefully, she thought, this goes according to plan.