Chapter Seven

The morning comes quickly for Rachel and she's sat waiting in the reception of the Record Company. The receptionist keeps giving her funny looks because she never normally turns up before 8 o'clock in the morning, but here she is at 7.35am.

Rachel smiles as she sees Santana dash through the doors.

"Morning," says Rachel still slightly asleep.

"Hi, you okay?" smiles Santana.

"Yeah, well, okay enough. Let's talk," says Rachel sounding ominous.

The girls walk down the nearest corridor to hunt for an empty room, which isn't too difficult at this time in the morning.

Quickly they pile into a room and sit down. The room is only small and has a table and 6 chairs in it, a few pictures of artists that the record company has on their label hang on the walls and that's about it.

"So, what's up?" asks Santana sitting opposite Rachel.

"It's Quinn," she sighs in reply.

"Oh uh, trouble in paradise?"

"Sort of. I'm blind and stupid that's what,"

"Huh?" replies Santana not having a clue what's going on.

"Well me and Quinn, we haven't been...intimate for just over a month and I started to think she didn't want me and we've been arguing a lot and it kind of came to a head last night,"

"I take it the house hunting didn't go well then?" says Santana sympathetically.

"No not really, it started off another round of arguing,"

"Oh, so what's wrong with Quinn? I take it it's something to do with you two fighting?"

"Kind of. She says her libido's gone because we fight too much and then she comfort eats and now she feels fat," says Rachel getting herself a little worked up. "I mean come on, she's not fat and why should that stop her wanting sex I mean I don't care what she looks like, she should know that by now. Even if she was 10 stone heavier I would still love her," Rachel raves and starts going red in the face.

"Whoa, hang on there a minute," says Santana putting her hand on Rachel's arm to try and calm her down.

"Sorry. I kind of went off on one," says Rachel quite embarrassed.

"Yeah don't worry about it. So let me get this straight, you want...sex and she doesn't hence issues. Well maybe you need to..." starts Santana then stops realising what she might say could upset Rachel, "Never mind,"

"Please tell me, I'm just confused. I promise I won't hate you for whatever you say,"

"Okay then. Well it seems to me like Quinn just doesn't feel sexy any more. I know some people get like that. I mean I don't know if she's put weight on I don't spend much time looking at her like that," shrugs Santana.

"Well...I guess she has a little, but I've never really noticed. I only ever see her in clothes now, but either way I don't mind if she's put a few pounds on or not. And why'd you think she doesn't feel sexy?"

"I don't know, I read it somewhere," shrugs Santana "When people don't feel sexy they don't want sex end of. Rachel you've gotta do something. I can't believe I'm asking you this but, do you tell her she's sexy?" says Santana grimacing a little at the thought of her best friends having sex.

"Well...yeah...I think..." starts Rachel. "I mean I tell her she's beautiful and stuff,"

"Yeah but sexy's different isn't it? You've got to try and make her feel attractive otherwise she may just eat herself into oblivion," smiles Santana trying to lighten the mood.

Rachel doesn't say anything for a moment and just looks deep in thought. She suddenly snaps out of it and looks at her watch.

"Time to go meet the girls," smiles Rachel trying to act like nothing ever happened.

"Okay, let's go," replies Santana following Rachel out of the door trying to get the visuals out of her head.


Chapter Eight

As Santana and Rachel appear round the corner back into the reception they see Brittany and Tina already waiting for them. Rachel nearly gasps as the two that are usually late are actually on time and Quinn who's always early isn't there yet.

"Hi, guys, where'd you come from?" asks Brittany.

"Just went to the ladies. Got here a bit early," says Rachel making up an excuse.

"Morning anyway, you ready for the interview?" asks Tina surprisingly perky for 8 o'clock in the morning.

"Yeah should be okay. Where's Quinn?" asks Rachel as she and Santana sit down next to the other girls.

"Don't know, shouldn't you know? You're in the papers this morning, apparently you went out last night to a restaurant," says Brittany filling them in on the gossip.

"Yeah we did, but I took her home and I went back to mine,"

"Trouble in paradise?" remarks Brittany the same as Santana did.

"No, no not really, just needed some sleep," smiles Rachel.

Hillary, their manager walks in through the main door with two men by her side carrying recording equipment, cameras etc.

"Morning girls," she smiles, "Where's Quinn?"

Everyone shrugs and says they don't know.

"Okay well she's got 5 minutes. These two young men are from MTV and as you know just want to film you as they do an interview. Simple enough. I'll take them into the room and get them sorted out. Becky and Angela should be here soon to sort out your makeup,"

Rachel wasn't really listening to Hillary's speech she was more concerned about Quinn. The girl was never late, she was organised to a tee. She got her phone and but had no messages.

"You, looked worried, she'll be here don't worry," says Santana placing her hand on Rachel's shoulder.

"Yeah come on Rach we're talking about the unflappable and always together Quinn. Don't worry about her," says Tina shrugging.

She wasn't unflappable and together last night. But thank god they don't all know.

Rachel suddenly turns around as she hears someone else come through the doors, it was Quinn. Her heart can finally slow down as she knows she's safe.

"Sorry I'm late," she says sounding a little rough.

She's wearing big sunglasses and a big jacket and generally looks quite scruffy. As she looks at the other girls she knows that they all think she looks weird but tries to ignore it.

"You okay?" asks Rachel standing up and walking over.

"Fine, I think I'm coming down with something," she says with an even more husky voice than normal.

"Awww," says Rachel and goes to kiss her but Quinn steps back.

"Best not, I don't want you catching it too," she replies. Brittany and Tina look at each other as if to say 'Uh oh something's not right'