This was only their second date even though they had been dating for nearly two months. Rachel forced yet another smile onto her face as Finn pulled up to Breadstix again, the same place he took her for their first date.

"I know you told me last time this place didn't have that many vegan options," Finn looked at her with puppy dog eyes, "but I didn't have time to look around for any other places. So I hope this is okay."

"It's perfectly fine, Finn, thank you for taking me out tonight." Rachel couldn't help but think of the numerous times she skyped Kurt only to see Finn in the background playing Call of Duty. But sure, he didn't have enough time.

"Yeah, no big deal. Now let's eat!" Finn practically jumped out of his seat and jogged up to the front door, leaving Rachel to clamber out of the passenger's side on her own. She tried to shove down the disappointment and sickening realization that dating Finn wasn't… it wasn't–

"Come on, Rach! I just got us a table!" Finn was embarrassingly loud, so Rachel just shoved her thoughts aside and plastered a smile on her face, trying to ignore the stares of other couples and families who were also walking up to the entrance of the restaurant. She had to remind Finn when she got to the main entrance to lock the car.

They spent dinner similarly to how they spent most of their time together: Finn gushing about himself and Rachel pretending that she didn't mind how one sided the conversation was. She thought by now that Finn would realize she hadn't rambled once while they were together, which should practically be every alarm system on the planet sounding at once. Maybe he thought it was a good thing though. Rachel had no clue. On this particular night, Finn discussed how he was hoping to get offers from Ohio State University or maybe Oregon or Alabama. Rachel just didn't have it in her heart to tell him that he'd have to be living in a parallel universe where McKinley's football program was actually good (or at least decent) to have a shot at prestigious football universities like those. Instead, she nodded along, prodding her fork around her plate of salad which, yet again, and despite her telling the waitress numerous times (seven, to be exact), had shredded cheese all over it. She planned to just box it and give it to her Dad. She'd have to make her own dinner.

When Finn dropped her off at home, he gave her a goodnight kiss that Rachel would've rather passed. It was sloppy and too aggressive. But she allowed him to slip his tongue in her mouth for maybe three seconds before she couldn't take anymore, and removed his face from hers with a hand on either side of his head. He repositioned himself in his seat and Rachel fought the urge to wipe her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Th-Thanks for tonight." She tried to sound appreciative, but she really just wanted the date to be over.

"You're welcome, Rachel. I had a great time."

"Me too…" An awkward silence fell between them as Rachel mustered over that bold face lie she managed to voice. Out of nowhere, the quarterback leaned over the middle console yet again, reaching for Rachel's neck as he swooped in for another kiss. After a split second of shock, Rachel pushed her open palm on Finn's chest, forcing him back into his seat.

"Goodnight, Finn." Rachel said as she hastily collected her purse from the passenger side floor mat. She didn't have to watch his car (besides, she could hear it) to know that Finn ripped out of her neighborhood, most likely upset. Oddly enough, Rachel didn't mind. At least Finn seemed to acknowledge her when he was mad at her.

"Kurt?" It was Sunday night, which meant that it was the last part of the weekend they had to go over their script for their weekly Monday live stream. Rachel was fumbling through her closet, looking for something clean and argyle. It seemed like her Saturday night date with Finn had thrown off her entire schedule. "Kurt!"

"Shhhhh!"

Before he knew it, the high-pitched boy was laying under a pile of sweaters with stitched animals on them. "Hey, what was that for?!" Kurt cried as he removed a rather furry sleeve from the top of his head, not at all expecting Rachel's clothes bomb assault. "Those better have been clean! I have very sensitive skin."

"Please tell me you're not still watching that guy's videos."

"Uh, first of all, he's not just some guy. His name is Blaine, and he just so happens to be devastatingly handsome, can sing, and only lives about three hours away from Lima. Oh, and did I mention he has over a hundred-thousand subscribers?"

"And did I forget to mention that it's already eight-thirty before a school night and we still don't have the last part of our show written?"

"Rachel, do you not get what I'm trying to say here?" Rachel crossed her arms, blowing her bangs up in a bout of frustration.

"No."

"What I'm getting at is that this is a huge chance for us to do a collaboration!"

"We can get glee club members to collaborate with us," Rachel said as she went to remove the remains of her clothes bomb from her bed, folding them neatly and putting them back in her closet.

"Yeah, 'cause that worked out so well with Quinn, huh." Ouch.

"I told you, she changed her mind last minute. Plus… we still have Finn."

"Rachel," Kurt switched from laying on his stomach to sitting cross-legged atop Rachel's bed. "I think there's something you've been avoiding telling me." Rachel finally halted in her hunt for an outfit. It wasn't in her to act like Kurt wasn't right – she had been dying to vent to the boy all night, but all she could think about when the beginning of a rant was just behind her teeth was how just last year her friendship with Kurt was hanging by a thread because of Finn.

"Rachel, you know I'm over him, right? Like, super, super over. Also, our parents finally got together, so it'd be a bit of a problem to still have a crush on him anyway."

"Oh, don't act like you don't sometimes check him out."

"Okaaay," Kurt drawled, a slight red tint appearing on his cheeks, "but I swear that's only to compare my old standards to my new ones. Like my future boyfriend Blaine." Rachel rolled her eyes and laughed a little, but she still didn't feel comfortable saying what was on her mind. Admitting that Finn wasn't all she hoped to be would make her seem like a fool, wouldn't it? It'd make every snide comment shot her way by Mercedes or Santana or everyone else at McKinley who had something to say when she and the quarterback got together valid, wouldn't it?

"Say what's on your mind, girl! I'm all ears."

"But Kurt, I feel like you wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

"W-Well… I just feel like Finn and I are approaching our first bump in the road, and it's earlier on in our relationship than I anticipated."

"Bump in the road? Yeah, that sounds like a bit of an understatement considering how Finn almost drove through our garage door when he got home last night. What happened?"

"I don't really know..." Kurt lowered his eyes, "okay, I kind of know. I just, Finn tried to kiss me and I was so tired and exhausted from this week so I pushed him away and he got mad. I guess I was just not in the mood the whole time and he couldn't tell."

"Well, the both of us knew before either of us liked him that Finn was never the brightest in the bunch. Why didn't you tell him you weren't in the mood to go out?"

"I tried!"

"But?"

"But… I don't know."

"To me it seems like… maybe you're making things out to be more problematic than they are? I mean, Finn is pretty simple-minded. I'm sure if you made him aware of how you feel more often he'd start to respond."

"I–… maybe you're right."

"Hold the phone – did Rachel Berry just take my advice without any sort of retort or diva-inspired breakout into song?"

"I guess she did."

"Either I just made a whole lot of sense, or you're still keeping things from me that may potentially make you seem like a shallow person."

"Since I'm not obligated to, I'm not going to admit to either of those observations. But what I will do is snatch that laptop away until you start brainstorming with me so I can finally get some rest and stop stressing before my hair falls out and I'm unfortunately subjected to new forms of bullying at McKinley!"

"Okay, we'll get to that after I help you with that outfit," Kurt pointed to the skirt and socks Rachel began smoothing out at the edge of her bed. "Argyle socks with an argyle mini skirt? That's a no."

"Well all I have to choose from are those lovely sweaters I threw at you, my argyle skirt and socks you just wrongfully insulted, and this navy cardigan and white blouse." Rachel held the latter two garments up to her chest.

"Why don't you just wash your clothes now?"

"Because," Rachel looked at him with incredulously wide eyes, "It's nine PM on Sunday and washing clothes would consume at least two and a half hours of time that could be used for sleep! Don't you think I'd have already washed them if it wasn't a big deal?"

"Okay, well I know you've got to have more stuff in that Narnia-esque closet than that! What about that outfit I gave you for Christmas?"

"You mean the one that blatantly breaks about three different wardrobe rules in our code of conduct?"

"It does? Go me."

"Kurt!"

"Look, if you bring it out, I can make some alterations. Do you still have that granny-inspired knitting kit under your bed?"

"M-Maybe."

"Okay, then get that and the outfit out so I can get to work!"

"But the script–!"

"After, I promise Rachel. Let's get this outfit done so I know I won't go blind from an argyle attack tomorrow."

Being the center of attention is what Rachel lived for when she was on stage. Not so much when she was walking down the halls of McKinley High to her locker.

Freaking Kurt.

Rachel tugged at the flaring material of the black peplum top Kurt bought her that managed to hug all of her curves in just the right places. The male diva added a slim belt at the waist, convincing Rachel that she needed something extra to make it "pop." She donned a black and white houndstooth miniskirt with long, black socks that reached above her knee, finishing off the look with suede red heels. It was too much, especially for a regular Monday morning with about two months of school left. She was just grateful that it wasn't too chilly out when she walked outside to her car that morning. She did, however, make the excuse to her Dad that she was feeling rather anemic lately and should probably schedule a doctor's appointment as she clung her beige trench coat shut to conceal her outfit. If only Leroy could see her now.

"Well, well, would you look at this. Did Finn finally pop the Berry this weekend or what?" The brunette didn't even have to turn around to know who her first assailant of the day was.

"Don't you think it's a little too early for this, Santana?" After all, Rachel did just make it to her locker. She wondered why the Cheerio would even pay her any attention at this time of morning.

"Nothing's earlier than Cheerio practice," Brittany added in, always right beside the Latina, "you look super hot today, by the way! Maybe you can play a game later with me and San?"

"A game?"

"Sorry, midget, Brittany just got a little mixed up. The outfit is a nice little gimmick, but we don't mingle with trannies. Come on Brit."

"Oh, that's too bad," Brittany pouted, but then seemed to instantaneously cheer up after the Latina made a comment in her ear. "Lead the way!"

Rachel didn't spare a look in their direction as they stalked away from her locker. She could care less what those two were up to anyhow, she could barely concentrate on putting her notebooks in her locker since as more and more students entered, the more intensely she was stared at. Perhaps she was too overwhelmed to even notice another blonde slip into her peripheral.

"Morning, Berry. Look, I just–" as soon as she heard her voice, Rachel's head snapped towards the ex-Cheerio, catching the blonde in the middle of raking her eyes down Rachel's body. When their eyes finally met, Rachel watched quizzically as Quinn quickly looked away, only to clear her throat and reassume her initial position and stare directly into Rachel's eyes. It was unusually unnerving to say the least. Not just because it felt like Quinn was trying to maintain eye contact to save her life, but mostly because it was the first time they had held each other's eyes for more than a fleeting moment in over a month.

"Quinn?" It felt like an eternity had passed before Rachel managed to utter her name.

"H-Hey, um, I just needed to uh, talk? Yeah. With you. Now."

"Oookay," Rachel chuckled awkwardly, "about?"

"Ah…" While she was certain she outwardly appeared acutely perplexed, internally, Rachel was feeling giddier than a kid locked in a candy store. If only Quinn could see herself, she thought.

"Uh, hello? Quinn? You with me?"

"With you? What do you – oh, uh, yes! I'm with you! I mean, I'm here, all good." Rachel smirked.

"Okay, if you say so."

"Well, I'm saying so."

"You are."

"Jesus Christ," Quinn muttered as she placed a hand over her eyes. "Listen," the blonde steeled herself somewhat, "can you come with me for a second?"

"Why?" Rachel watched as Quinn, obviously frustrated, mumbled to herself, something along the lines of 'always asking questions' and 'can't go with the flow.'

"Because. I asked you to," Quinn said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Last time I checked, your words weren't law of the land. You know what, I liked it when we weren't talking. I finally realized how much energy I was expending trying to be your friend or even just cordial with you. Maybe we should stick to not conversing. Oh, and I'll save you some of your pride and pretend like these past two or so minutes didn't just happen–"

"Please, Rachel." The shorter girl narrowed her eyes at the ex-celibacy club president. What did Quinn want from her that she couldn't get on her own? There must be something – that's the only reason she'd go out of her way to talk to her like this, right? Or was this part of some elaborate prank to help her regain her high status among McKinley's other regal douchebags and self-acclaimed Lima celebrities?

"'Please' what, Quinn? As far as I'm concerned, as of last month, I have nothing to offer you."

"I'm the one who's trying to offer you something." Rachel quirked an eyebrow.

"Care to explain?"

"I'll start explaining after we can get a bit of privacy. I'm not feeling up to trying to have a serious conversation with you while horny little bottom feeders gawk at you from every corner of the hall." Quinn broke eye contact for just a second. It didn't go unnoticed. "Why are you wearing that, anyway?"

"You don't like it?"

"What? No, I just – you know what, I don't even care." Quinn walked away, not having to say anything to indicate for Rachel to follow her. The brunette could barely contain her smile as she trailed behind the blonde. Score one for Kurt.

"You're lying."

"Do you honestly think I would go through the trouble of being caught at your locker, then drag you into an empty classroom with me when I'm pretty sure that creep Jacob has already caught wind of what you're wearing and is on the hunt for you right now just so I can lie to you? In private?"

"Touché."

"Damn right."

"Then why? I thought you didn't want anything to do with me, let alone the show." Rachel was honestly caught so off guard. She was pondering whether putting on this outfit sent her into another universe where Quinn Fabray was actually interested in helping her.

"People change."

"Okay, now that was a bit too melodramatic even for me. Especially considering it's only been like a month."

"I meant even before that, though."

"Wow, well now I'm certain I must be trapped in a parallel universe, because you're not making any sense at all."

"Look, I was thinking a lot these past few weeks, about myself, mostly about who I was in the past and how I want to be in the future–"

"Yeah, we all get it. 'Quinn Fabray, the narcissist'. I know."

"Could you make this any more difficult, Berry?"

"Seeing as there are so many things you happen to dislike about me, I suppose I could."

"Really? Do you really need to do this right now? You asked for an explanation and I'm trying here." Quinn was right, and it took all Rachel had then and there to swallow what could have been a mini blow-up followed by a diva storm out.

"Okay," Quinn began again, shifting her weight back and forth from her left to right leg. She looked so unlike herself in Rachel's eyes, the brunette couldn't help but feel intrigued yet anxious at the same time. She wouldn't have been surprised if someone jumped from behind the teachers' desk she was leaning on and dumped a slushy on her head. "So… I just want to a-apologize for being a huge bitch to you while I was pregnant." Rachel had to pinch herself to refrain from adding to that statement. Obviously Quinn was having a very early onset of Alzheimer's if she forgot about the years of bullying Rachel before she became pregnant. That, or Quinn was more selfish than she thought. It was a tossup between the two, really. "There were times when you were the only one there for me, and I really, really appreciated it – and still do now – even though at the time I may have treated you less than you deserve to be treated."

"…Is that it?"

"No. I also wanted to say sorry… about Shelby. As someone who recently learned what it felt like to not have their mother's support, I can only imagine how you feel when you think about her. And now, now I feel personally responsible for adding another obstacle along with the bridge that's already separating the two of you."

"Quinn, stop. My relationship with Shelby has nothing to do–"

"Just!" Quinn put her hand up, "just let me finish what I have to say. I don't think I'll be able to bring it up again." Rachel's mouth formed a pout. "Like I said, I feel sorry, but I also feel sick and tired of being stuck in this position that neither of us really asked to be in or could have anticipated being in. It was just the way things worked out."

"And so now you're offering to be on my web show as some skewed act of personal atonement?"

"Well when you put it that way–"

"I think I've heard enough."

"Rachel–"

"Wait. Let me talk now."

"But I feel like you still don't understand. There were countless nights where I just stayed awake in bed, thinking about everything that happened and how I really want to make it up to you. Not… entirely out of selfishness, but because I–"

"It's one thing to think about it, and it's another to actually show you care about someone. Did you think apologizing for being upset with me during a time when your hormones were completely out of whack and you'd lash out at whoever was within ten feet of you would make me fall to my knees at your feet, thanking you for finally acknowledging for once that you have a tendency to be bitchy?"

"No, I just–" before Quinn could finish saying what was on her mind, the warning bell for the first class blared through the classroom speakers. Rachel just then registered where she was, and for a split second realized that there were no snarky educational posters on the wall or any signs that the classroom had been used since the beginning of the school year.

"I'm going to have to cut this short, seeing as my timely arrival to class is just as important to me as my grades. I accept your offer to be on the show, despite however shallow your reasoning behind it appears to be. Since Kurt and I have already completed the script for tonight, I can write you in for Friday's show. Do you think you can come over sometime this week after school?"

"To your house?"

"Yes, Quinn," Rachel lamented, "to my house."

"Uh, sure, I'll be there."

"I'll give you directions later."

"Okay."

Rachel brushed by Quinn quickly as she left the classroom, not sparing the blonde a 'goodbye' or a glance as she began to speed walk to the other side of the hall. As she focused in on the sound of her heels connecting with the tile floor, Rachel couldn't imagine what the rest of the day – or that week – had in store for her.

A/N: I really enjoyed reading you guys' reactions to the first two chapters! I'll try responding to each one of you ASAP. Please review for more. :)

- K