A/N: As I said on my Tumblr guys, really sorry for the wait for this chapter. I got to spend some extra time with my girlfriend this week and had a long weekend at work so I didn't get the chance to do any writing. But here it is, I hope you guys like it and that it was worth waiting for.

Oh and just a reminder that I'm British so my spellings may be different than most of you are used to.

Dani loitered outside of the auditorium. Since school ended she had been strolling around the school trying to pass the time so that she could attempt to sneak into glee club without being noticed. She didn't want to have to deal with Brittany again today. She contemplated just turning around and catching the next bus home but she had told Rachel she would be there and she didn't want to let down the only person who had showed any interest in being her friend today. She held her breath as she slowly pulled open the door into the schools theatre.
She tried to open it as quietly as possible, the door however had other ideas and made a loud suction noise as she moved it on its hinges. Dani Scrunched her face up in embarrassment as the room went silent and number of faces turned to look to her.
"Sorry" She cringed as she lowered herself into the seat closest to the exit.
"Don't be Dani, I'm glad you could join us" Dani recognise the teacher as Mr Schue, the same man who had been kind to her her showed her to the principals office earlier that day. She acknowledged him with a small smile. "Please, feel free to join the group." Mr Schue offered.
Dani took the opportunity to take a small glance around the room. There where only about eleven or twelve other students in the room. She noticed Rachel at first who was shooting her a massive smile and was waving her to come down further into the room. Dani smiled at the fondness she already had for the girl. Her eyes continued to scan the room until her heart pounded and she felt those butterflies in her stomach again. Santana was sat smiling back up at her. Dani froze. Everyone was looking at her as if they were expecting her to say or do something.
"Your timing is wonderful Dani, I was just about to welcome everyone back to school with a rousing number." Rachel expressed as she stood from her chair and moved to get Dani from her seat. Dani heard a few chuckles from the other students and figured that yes, Rachel was like this all the time.
Rachel guided the girl down to the lower seats of the room and pushed her down one of the isles, giving her a wink as she left Dani to head towards the stage. Dani thought Rachel was acting a bit weird. Why had she winked at her and why did she feel the need to personally see her to a seat? She decided to shrug it off and she turned to walk further down the isle and to join the rest of the group.
"Hi" Dani's mouth went dry. Santana was on her row. Santana was talking to her. More importantly Santana was smiling at her and there was an empty seat next to her. The moment she decided to sit next to the girl Dani caught a glimpse of blonde hair. Sitting next to Santana with her arms folded and her expression fixed hard onto the stage was Brittany, her lunch time tormentor. Dani took a step back and left one empty chair in between herself and the girl she so desperately wanted to be close to.
"Hi" Dani replied as she slouched into her chair, resting her head in her hands and leaning onto the arm rest as she angled her head to glimpse at Santana. The brunettes smile wan't as big as before as she looked down at the empty seat in between them. Dani's head was spinning. Did Santana want Dani to sit in that seat too?
Why couldn't she have just opened the door quietly?

The focus of the room fell on Rachel as she reached the stage and instructed the pianist on her choice of song.
"Okay now I did have another song prepared for today, in fact I was rehearsing it all summer." Rachel smiled at Dani and gestured to her new friend earning a smile in return. "However, upon meeting Dani at lunch time today" She shot a steely glance over to Brittany and paused to let it sink in to the blonde cheerleader that what she did was not okay. "I was inspired to pick another song, so forgive me if I haven't had time to perfect my performance as I usually would have and would expect the same from all of you." The pianist began to play and Dani felt the atmosphere in the room relax now that all the attention was not on her. When Rachel began to sing Dani smiled a toothy grin at her friend and gave her a small nod. She really was as good as she said she was.

"If you're lonely
And need a friend
And troubles seem like
They never end
Just remember to keep the faith
And love will be there to light the way"

Dani recognised the song instantly. She would often sing it to her little sister when she was having a bad day and needed some cheering up. The two girls would snuggle up on the sofa and have a good cry about things that were upsetting them. The younger of the two would look up to her big sister and Dani knew instantly what she needed.
She listned hard to the rest of the song. Letting the memories wash over her. She knew why Rachel had chosen the song and it had worked. Dani was beginning to feel at ease now that she knew she wouldn't be alone for the rest of the school year.

"Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
So don't you ever be lonely
It's alright"

Rachel finished singing and readily accepted the applause which followed.
"Thank you" Dani whispered as Rachel took her seat in front of her.
"You're welcome" She mouthed back.

"Alright then guys I think that's all we have time for today" Mr Schue announced. "And I think I have found the perfect theme for this week. Fresh starts" He paused to let it sink in. "A lot of you had a lot of tough stuff going on last year" His eyes glanced over to a few individuals in the room. "Let's try and leave that behind us and move ahead as the better people we have become because of it. Dani" Dani's head shot up at the sound of her name.
"Em, Yeah?"
"How do you feel about joining us?"
"I'm errr, I'm not sure yet"
"Well you have plenty of time to think about it. We would love to have you on the team"
"Thanks Mr Schue I will" Dani replied and with that the room began to empty. Rachel spun around in her chair.
"Do you need a lift home?" She asked
"Yeah sure" Dani accepted
"Great we can start brainstorming auditions ideas" Rachel seemed like she was going to burst with excitement.
"Audition?" Dani wasn't quite so thrilled.
"You're no good to us if you can't sing" Brittany spat out as she pushed past Dani, knocking her slightly into Rachel as she walked off followed closely by Santana who stopped in front of the new girl. Santana reached forward and ran her hand along Dani's arm.
"I'm sure you're a great singer" Santana reassured "But I'd still want you around anyway" She added as her hand slipped into Dani's and gave it a small squeeze before turning an following the blonde.

Dani stood completely frozen replaying what had just happened in her head while her heart beat steadied itself.
"Okay, what just happened?" Rachel asked, completely astounded.
"I... err..." Dani's mouth was dry and incapable of forming words.
"Because if you're thinking that Santana and Brittany swapped personalities over the summer then I think you may be right."

A/N: The song is 'Anythime you need a friend' by Mariah Carey. (not a personal favourite but it fitted so i used it)