Chapter 3 – Awkward

When they arrived back at Quinn's room, it was just past six and Kyra was standing over her bed with several outfits laid out. Kyra's eyes brightened as they walked in the door.

"Rachelll!" shouted Kyra as she ran over and gave Rachel a hug. "Great to see you again!"

"Great to see you too," Rachel smiled into the hug, looking over at Quinn slightly surprised. She was definitely not used to getting this kind of greeting, not from someone she had just met, though she had felt like they had bonded pretty quickly that first weekend. The tiny brunette was actually a few inches shorter than Rachel, which Rachel secretly loved, and being an energetic drama major they found they had much in common. The three of them had all gone out to dinner the first night she was there and there was such a whirlwind of conversation between them, Quinn could barely get a word in, so she ended up sitting back and enjoying just listening to the two of them chatter on about dance classes and auditions. This was so unlike high school, Rachel felt like she was in a different world.

"So nice to have someone to take Quinn out for a walk," smirked Kyra.

"Excuse me?" shot back Quinn with a raised brow.

"We had a lovely day," said Rachel, absently caressing Quinn's shoulder. "We took a walk through the park, Quinn took me out to lunch, and then we went to a bookstore. She behaved very well."

"Hey!" complained Quinn as Kyra laughed. "I don't think I need to stand here and listen to this." Quinn turned and brushed her hand against Rachel's, sending tingles up Rachel's arm. "I'm going to go wash up so we can get ready to go. I'll be right back," said Quinn before picking up her hand towel and heading out the door for the bathroom down the hall.

"Okay," said Rachel softly, watching Quinn leave.

Kyra looked over at Rachel with a curious look. "Sooo… you and Quinn," said Kyra once Quinn had shut the door.

"We go back a long ways."

"I can't believe I missed it last time you were here," said Kyra, shaking her head slowly.

"Missed what?"

"You like her."

"I… well of course, she's a great friend to me," replied Rachel, walking over to her overnight bag to get from under Kyra's gaze.

"You know that's not what I'm talking about," continued Kyra. She walked over and put her arm on Rachel's when she didn't get any further response from the brunette. "Rachel, I think that's really sweet. You guys are awesome together."

"Please don't tell Quinn. I haven't…" started Rachel, still shocked at how quickly Kyra picked up on this. She thought she was being discreet. "I haven't told her and I'm a bit worried how she's going to take it when I do."

Kyra gasped. "Oh my god. Rach, are you going to tell her tonight?" asked Kyra, wide-eyed.

"Well… that was kind of the plan. Actually, I meant to talk to her on the walk today but… I just got so wrapped up in the feeling of being with her that I… I didn't quite get to it."

"Awww!" squeaked Kyra. "You guys are so cute! I totally ship you two."

"Thank you," said Rachel with a slight smile that vanished as she looked down again. "I feel like Quinn feels something too."

"Oh my god, Rachel, she talks about you all the time."

"That's good to hear."

"And I mean, she doesn't just talk about you. She's got this look in her eyes and genuine smile on her face whenever she tells us stories about you."

"Us?"

"Yeah, Hayley and…" Kyra paused, as if she said something she wasn't supposed to.

"That's, umm… that's the other thing I'm worried about."

Kyra grimaced slightly.

"Hayley likes Quinn too, doesn't she…" prodded Rachel.

"Well… yeah," said Kyra timidly.

"I knew it," sighed Rachel.

"Don't worry they're not, like, dating or anything. I don't even know where Quinn's interests are, really…" said Kyra. "I mean, I see her turn down both guys and girls all the time. It's a pretty liberal campus, if you know what I mean," smirked Kyra. "But I don't get any real reaction from her one way or another. I'm always sharing everything that's going on between me and Tim, but… she's not really opened up about anyone in return."

"I'm not surprised by that. I think Quinn's a bit frightened to admit any feelings right now."

They both were quiet for a moment, unsure of where to go from here, until Rachel had a realization.

"I'm sorry. Hayley is your best friend. I know this puts you in an awkward position."

"Don't worry about it. I'm going to wait offstage, until someone needs me to pick up the pieces."

"Did you run out of things to say behind my back that quickly?" asked Quinn, astonished at how quiet it was in the room when she returned from the bathroom. She thought for sure she'd find them both sitting on Kyra's bed, gabbing away. Instead, they were sitting on separate beds, hands in their laps, looking at her.

Rachel did her best to lighten the mood and gave a little chuckle at Quinn's comment. "I'm going to go wash up, myself. Be right back," said Rachel, grabbing another towel on the way out.

Quinn turned back to look at Kyra, crossing her hands in front of her. "What did you do?"

"Nothing!" retorted Kyra. "Help me decide what to wear."

Quinn sighed, but decided to drop it. She knew that tone from Kyra meant she wouldn't get anything out of her. She'd just have to ask Rachel about it later. Hayley was probably going to be over any minute, and the thought of her and Rachel in the same room was giving her knots in her stomach. They'd been friendly to one another the first time they'd met, or maybe civil was more accurate, but as the weekend went along, it was clear there was tension between the two. Their personalities seemed to clash, and both were very possessive of their time with Quinn.

On that thought, as if on cue, Hayley walked in the door looking… like sex from head to toe in a short hip-hugging light flower print dress that was laced up the side, exposing tanned skin in all directions.

"Hey Kyra."

"Whoa, fuck Hayley! You are dressed to kill tonight!" exclaimed Kyra.

Hayley walked slowly over to Quinn, smirking at Quinn's open mouth, and twirled into her personal space, whispering in a husky voice when she arrived inches from her lips, "Hi, Quinn. Like what you see?"

Quinn stood her ground and locked eyes with Hayley, refusing to give her the satisfaction of looking down at her highly glossed lips, and shook her head disbelievingly at the spectacle in front of her. It was enough to make Quinn pause before replying. "I think I just saw more than I should have."

Hayley laughed out loud at the drama she created, while Kyra just rolled her eyes. Then in a calculated maneuver, she put her right arm up to balance on Quinn's shoulder as she bent her left leg at the knee and looked down over her shoulder at her strappy heels. "Got new heels to go with, you like them?"

Just as Quinn was about to make a snarky comment on Hayley's choice of revealing clothing, Rachel walked in the door, pausing for a moment to absorb the scene in front of her. Hayley turned around, using the opportunity to casually slide her arm around Quinn's neck.

"Rachel! There you are, I was just about to ask where you were hiding," quipped Hayley.

Quinn stepped away from Hayley's casual stance and glared at her for her choice of greeting, while Rachel stood there, a stunned look on her now makeup-free face, unsure how to respond to any of the sensory overload she was currently experiencing.

Hayley quickly picked up on the awkwardness she'd created and apologized, "Fuck, I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry, I started drinking when I was getting ready and, well, that was a long time ago."

"That's okay, Hayley, it's nice to see you," lied Rachel as she came further into the room with her show smile on. 'Let the games begin', thought Rachel to herself.

"That's actually a great idea, Hayles," Kyra said, trying to ignore the elephant in the room. "Get the shot glasses down. Tequila's in the bottom drawer. We needs a predrink!"

Kyra lifted everyone back into party spirits after the initial awkwardness that everyone felt and no one wanted to talk about. One drink turned into three and they were soon all laughing again. Rachel and Hayley were cool but pleasant to each other, but Rachel bristled every time Hayley put a hand on Quinn to brush an eyelash off her cheek or fix her hair. She knew she had no right to complain, but it felt like a slap in the face nonetheless. It didn't seem fair. Everyone knew Hayley liked to flirt and she did so openly with Quinn, while only Kyra had any idea how Rachel felt. Kyra tried to keep Hayley in check, but there was only so much she could do with her hands full getting ready.

An hour later, as Rachel and Kyra were finishing the last touches on their hair, Hayley excused herself to go to the bathroom down the hall. Quinn got up from her desk chair and immediately followed. "I'll be right back," she announced.

Kyra and Rachel looked at each other with raised eyebrows as Quinn left the room. She followed Hayley into the bathroom and looked around to make sure they could have a private conversation, then turned to look Hayley straight in the eye.

Hayley put up her hands in defense, "Look, before you say anything, I know I've been a little snippy with Rachel but I'm trying, Qui-"

"Rachel is my best friend, Hayley. The way you treat her is the way you treat me," interrupted Quinn, slowly emphasizing each word.

"I know, Quinn. I'm sorry. Really, I'm trying," replied Hayley with feeling in her voice.

"I think your flirting is bothering her."

"Why should it? You said-"

"I know what I said," interrupted Quinn. "It's just… today was different. She was very close to me, clingy almost, and it was really nice. When she looked into my eyes… I don't know, it was like she was trying to send me a message."

Hayley let out a sigh and dropped her hands by her side.

"Hayley… you know how I feel about her."

"And you know how I feel about you!" pleaded Hayley, her eyes starting to glisten ever so slightly.

"Look, I made it clear two weeks ago that you and I-"

"Could never start anything before you talk to Rachel," finished Hayley. "Yeah, I get that."

"I'm sorry… please understand. I just… I don't want to scare Rachel off right now."

"I think Rachel is a big girl and can handle herself. Maybe a little competition is just what she needs to light a fire under those feelings you think she has for you," offered Hayley with a cool smirk.

Quinn scoffed and rolled her eyes. "You're evil," she replied as she turned and walked out of the bathroom.

"No, I just know what I want," said Hayley quietly once she was alone.

A/N: Thank you for continuing to read this far, and thank you for the reviews. I LOVE hearing from you. I'm always curious what stands out to readers. I would love to hear what your favorite line is, or what moved you. Thanks!