AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Originally Posted: Feb 11th, 2011
Even without the author's note, this chapter is 1000+ words longer than any of the other chapters thus far. This might have something to do with the fact that it's also the first chapter to have some (mild) smut in it. I'm not sure if it's enough to warrant a rating change (it's mostly innuendo-ish) so I'd appreciate feedback on that issue alone if nothing else.
Next chapter starts the guest appearances (apply now :D ) and starts the run up to the conclusion of the first major plot arc for SFA.
Lastly, I want to take a moment to thank all of you who have stuck with me this long. This is by far one of the biggest story projects I've ever attempted and seeing that giant spike in traffic each Friday gives me a huge grin, seeing that a good chunk of that spike is for the later chapters makes that grin even bigger (not that I don't appreciate all you newcomer. Of course an extra big thanks goes out to those of you who have taken the time to comment and review.
Disclaimer Time, Disclaimer Time!
Glee, the characters of Glee along with associated events, locations and miscellaneous extras are not mine. They belong to the fine folks at Fox and I have no affiliation with Fox beyond being a fan (of some) of their programming. My use of the characters, locations, events and miscellaneous extras of Glee are in no way authorized by Fox and I make no income at all from these works. They are intended only as a sign of appreciation and are presented for public consumption only to spread the Gleek love.
Enjoy :D
Chapter 7
Behind Frienemy Lines
- October 1st, 2010 (Beth +115)
Fabray Home, Quinn's Room, 6:16pm
This was was no reason for her to feel like this. It was Finn for god's sake. At best she could call him a friend and, honestly, she'd be happy with that much giving all that had passed between them over the last year so why on earth did she feel like she was preparing for their first date?
*I'm a bitch I'm a lover*
*I'm a child I'm a mother*
*I'm a sinner I'm a saint*
*I do not feel ashamed*
*I'm your hell I'm your dream*
*I'm nothin' in between*
*You know, you wouldn't want it any other way*
Oh right, that's why. Quinn sighed heavily as she put down the tube of lip gloss she'd been fidgeting with for the last ten minutes and picked up her cell phone.
From: Santana L (555-2824)
Dn't 4get 2 shw the grls.
Yeah, like a glimpse of cleavage would make Finn forget months of lying to him about being the father of her baby or hiding her infidelity with Puck or the hell she'd put him through before the truth had come out.
Not that it mattered. She didn't want Finn back, not like that. Hell she'd be overjoyed just to have him look at her like without that flicker of anger and disappointment that started off every glance in her direction.
Not that she deserved his forgiveness. She hadn't exactly gone out of her way to earn it, particularly since waiting him out had worked out pretty well. His relationship with Rachel hadn't hurt things either. As mind boggling as it had been, being with Rachel had made Finn happy...
Speaking of... Quinn would have to figure some way out of Santana's delusion before things got out of hand with the tiny singer. Yes, the blonde could admit that when she'd first seen the Diva and Finn together she'd felt both jealous and threatened but at the time it was a perfectly natural reaction. She may have cheated on Finn but he didn't know that and they were still a couple. How dare that little troll try and move in on her man.
But now, looking back on it, She knew she hadn't really loved Finn even then, they had been together because that's what you did. The quarterback and the head cheerleader. It was how things worked. It was one of the stepping stones to ruling McKinley high.
Was that why she'd done it? Had she known on some subconscious level even then that Finn wasn't who she wanted to be with? Maybe that was why she'd let Puck ply her with wine coolers that night. It wasn't like she didn't know his reputation. Had she wanted Finn to find out, wanted him to break up with her...
Would she have told him the truth if she hadn't gotten pregnant?
It was one thing to be single, it was another thing entirely to be single and pregnant. Especially to her parents, a hard truth she'd lived through from the moment Judy and Russell Fabray learned of her condition until the moment her Mother showed up at regionals with the news that daddy dearest had been kicked to the curb for cheating and she was free to come home.
And then her water broke. Hardly how she'd pictured that moment playing out the few times she's allowed herself the comfort of thinking it was even possible.
Which coincidentally were almost always after one of Berry's attempts at reaching out. If the girl she'd tortured for years was willing to see past her faults, forgive and forget, surely her parents could do the same.
Right?
Quinn gave her head a shake. Even if she'd slept with Noah out of some kind of subconscious desire to end her relationship with Finn that still didn't explain why she was freaking out over having to spend an hour or two with her ex. It's not like Santana was here watching over her shoulder. She didn't have to do anything but pick a song for Glee and call it night.
Easy.
*Ding Dong Ding*
"Frick!" Quinn cursed as she jumped off her bed, nearly tearing the door to her room off its hinges as she raced to get to the front door. "Mom don't, I'll ge-"
"Finn?"
"'Mrs Fabray."
Frick! Frick! Frick!
"Quinn, you have a... guest." her Mother called up, her tone leaving no doubt in the teen's mind that they would be talking about her 'visitor' later.
"Thank you Mother." Quinn called back then slowed her now useless rush to a more sedentary pace. Not too slow though, the less time Finn spent alone with her mom and vice versa, the better.
"Quinn."
"Finn. Study?"
"Uhh," The quarterback hummed, glancing over at the still waiting Judy to gauge her opinion on the matter.
"Go ahead dear, I need to ask Quinn a quick question and then she'll be right along."
"O-kay. This way right?"
"Yes." Both women replied, the younger's voice a little harsher then the elder's.
The few seconds it took Finn to step out of sight and, hopefully, earshot, where both the longest and shortest in Quinn's life.
"Quinnie?"
"It's for Glee Mom, we're doing a song together."
"I see..."
The high schooler's ears picked up everything her mother wasn't saying with those two words and decided to ignore them., confident she'd get the full version soon enough.
"I should go, don't want to keep him any longer then I have to." Quinn said, adding before she'd even knew the words were forming on her tongue "I'm sure he want's to spend some time with his girlfriend. You remember her? Rachel Berry."
It was quick, barely a flicker. She doubted anyone else would have even caught it but she'd grown up seeing that look in her Father's eyes every day. That look of justified disgust, deserved hatred, and proud prejudice.
Quinn felt her stomach turn as she brushed past her mother on the way to join Finn, surprising herself again when she added,"They're very much in love."
Where the hell had that come from?
As soon as Quinn had closed the study door behind her, Finn asked, "You didn't tell her I was coming?"
"... It must have slipped my mind."
"Gee thanks." Finn feigned hurt.
"It's not like that I-"
"It's okay. Actually I'm kinda glad."
"Really?" Quinn asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"Yeah..." Finn replied, dropping his eyes to the stack of cds in his hands. "If I can slip your mind like that then... uh... I, it's just... earlier, out side of Glee..."
"Oh" Quinn said. She'd been hoping to avoid this subject until she had figured out a way out of this mess but fate was nothing if not a right bitch. "Yeah about that-"
"Do you still love me?"
Wow. Who knew Finn could be so... direct. Okay yeah, when he was angry he had no trouble showing it and Glee had giving him a few opportunities to explore his emotions but by and large Finn wasn't really one to get in touch with his feelings. At least he hadn't been when they were together.
"Because if you do, I want, no I need you to know that I'm in love with Rachel. I want to be with her Quinn. Not you. No Offence."
A single mirthless laugh slipped past Quinn's lips. "None taken though I wouldn't blame you if you did mean some."
"Yeah, well... Do you?"
"I think we've already established that haven't we. I mean what with the whole sleeping with pu-"
"No not that, the still love me part. Do you?"
Finn watched with growing trepidation as Quinn walked the length of the room and back before the blonde took a long, slow, deep breath.
Berry Home, Rachel's Room, 5:49pm
*Oh come and dance with me, my baby*
*Let's dance, till we go crazy*
*The night is young and so are we*
*Let's make love and dance the night away*
Rachel stopped mid-sentence as Brittany let out a happy little yelp of excitement as she scrambled for her phone.
From: San-san (555-2824)
So Brd! Cm Sav Me.
"Your Mother?"
"No. San, She want's me to come over now."
"Oh. Well... I suppose we can try and finish up our song selection on Monday-"
"K, Thanks. Bye." the blonde replied, half way to the bedroom door before she was done speaking. No small feat giving that the words came out as one, short, continuos stream rather then the three separate entities they were.
"I'll just meet you at school then." Rachel muttered to the cheerleader shaped hole in the air before slumping back onto her mattress. It wasn't her, she told herself, it was Santana. Brittany's rush to vacate the premises had nothing to be with those premises belonging to one Rachel Berry and everything to do with the blonde wanting some alone time with her girlfriend.
Of course knowing that did nothing to quell the nasty little voice that insisted it had everything to do with wanting to get as far away from her as humanly possible.
Stupid voice.
Still it was probably for the best, the temptation to abuse their fate forced partnership to learn more about Quinn's recent behaviour, and in particular, her intent with regards to Finn, had been growing over the course of the evening and had the cheerio stuck out the remainder of their hour, Rachel wasn't sure she would have been able to resist using the seemingly simple teen for her own ends.
Something the Brunette was determined not to do in light of her recently remembered forays into the realm of the self serving manipulation of others.
"Sweetie?"
Rachel lifted her head just enough to take in the smaller of her two fathers.
"Yes Daddy?"
"Your friend left in a bit of a hurry. Is everything alright?"
"Yes Daddy, she just got a text from her girlfriend." Rachel replied, lifting herself a little more by pressing her free elbow into the overstuffed fuchsia duvet below her.
"Ah, yes... Leroy did mention something about that." Hiram replied as diplomatically as possible. Far be it for him to judge someone based on who they chose to love but a little more decorum on the matter in general would not go amiss.
"Daddy?"
"Yes pumpkin?"
Rachel pushed herself up to sit on the edge of her bed and Hiram watched the unfamiliar sight of his daughter struggle to find her words.
"Rachel?"
The petite super-star in the making slowly blew out her breath. "... Nothing Daddy. Is dinner ready?"
"Another ten minutes."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Not really. But if you'd like to come down and keep us company..."
The worry that had started to wrap itself around his heart retreated from the warmth of the smile turned in his direction.
"I'd love to."
Breadsticks Restaurant, Table 11, 6:18pm
*Crunch*
Artie glanced down at the list of possible songs suggestions he'd brought along with him, or what remained of it anyway. Upon his arrival at Lima's favourite carb based eatery the honeyed cheerio now munching away on her umpteenth breadstick of the night had given the list a brief once over before scratching heavy black lines of ink through each one.
And that had been the highpoint of the evening. The rest had consisted of Santana ignoring him while she texted, ignoring him while shouting for more breadsticks, ignoring him while eating said breadsticks or just plain old ignoring him. He was starting to regret telling his ride to come back for him rather then have wait outside.
"So..." He said in the vain hope that this time he might actually get the sable haired student to hold a conversation. "Finn and Rachel getting back together, that's-"
He left the sentence unfinished when Santana scoffed and watched the girl roll her eyes derisively.
Well... it was a start. "You don't think it's true? They seemed pretty cozy at Glee today."
"Please." Santana sneered. "Berry has no idea what's coming her way."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"San!"
A whole new level of uncomfortable leapt into Artie's night as a blur of blonde launched itself into Santana's lap before focusing into the sight of Brittany doing things to her girlfriend that, if not inappropriate for the family friendly establishment they were in probably violated more then a few health codes. He turned his head.
"B, Babe, wait."
"Oh thank god." the wheel-bound teen sighed in relief.
"Oh Hi Artie. I didn't see you there." Brit greeted as she finally noticed the other glee member.
The bespectacled boy was about to return the dancer's cheery wave when he noticed the glare pointing in his direction by the other girl.
Santana tightened her arms around her girlfriend's waist. "How's my girl?" she asked, stressing the second syllable as her narrowed eyes darted briefly back to Artie. "Did Manhands drive you insane with her berry-ness?"
"No. I'm good. She had cookies." Brittany answered, either oblivious to or ignoring the tension between her show choir compatriots as she leaned forward in her spot atop Santana's lap to snatch a breadstick from the table's half empty basket. "So did you and Artie pick a song yet? 'Cause if not, I have one you can use.
Berry Home, Rachel's Room, 7:09pm
Dinner had been good, not as tasty as when she made it of course but with her injury it would be a few more days before she could return to the kitchen as resident chef so the minor decline in quality was something they'd all just have to live with. Much like she'd have to live with the silent glances her parents had exchanged throughout the evening meal.
Rachel loved both of her Fathers very much and thanked both God and the universe at large for giving them to her and her to them. Even when they'd been at odds with each other, the singer would have been hard pressed to think her life would be any better with anyone else. But if there was one thing about her relationship with Hiram and Leroy Berry that she might want to change, it was that both men respected her privacy.
It wasn't that she wanted them to start reading her journal or keeping tabs on who she was with and where she'd gone or anything like that. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred she shared that information with them anyway.
But that one time she didn't, the one time she kept something to herself... part of her wished that they'd do something more then just sit back and wait for her to open up. If nothing else it would get rid of all that heavy silence that inevitably filled the air till she did.
Of course, she could just tell them what was on her mind. It wasn't like they were the only ones that could change things, but when Rachel kept something from her parents it was usually because she was still formulating her argument to defend her position on the mater or, rarely, trying to decide where that position was.
Like now... with Quinn.
Something had happened the other day. Twice. First when the blonde had confessed how cheerleading made her feel and again in the auditorium when she'd seemed genuinely concerned with Rachel's well being, enough that Quinn had actually chewed her out about not being more careful.
And then today... Rachel sighed as she leaned back into the chair by her desk. Up until Glee, Quinn hadn't so much as looked at her, not in any of the classes they shared nor when they passed each other in the hallway. If she didn't know better the brunette would almost think Quinn had been avoiding her.
But then Glee happened, or rather, before Glee happened and Quinn had treated her just like she always had, beneath her, less then. Something that should only be dealt with when no other course of action presented it self and even then with as little contact as possible.
All while apparently trying to hit on Finn.
At least until Santana left...
Another sigh filled the air. None of it made any sense and she was starting to get a headache from following the mobius path of her thoughts. Maybe tomorrow would clear things up. If nothing else it might give her more data to go on... like Finn's recounting of his time with the cheerio tonight.
Rachel's lips turned down in a frown. It wasn't that she didn't want Finn spending time with Quinn- Well that wasn't entirely true. She didn't but not out of some sort of jealousy, just a completely understandable concern for her friend. Finn was a good man, he deserved better then Quinn. If Rachel was completely honest, he deserved better then her too. Someone who could love him completely, without reservation or design.
It had been one of her reasons for breaking up with him.
She wanted to trust that Finn would make the right choices but when it came to Quinn...
That had been another of the reasons she'd broken up with him. She had never been able to shake the feeling that he still held some feelings for the other girl despite everything she'd put him through.
Of course, getting Finn's version of events would most likely involve having to address her Ex's hope for a reunion of their own. Yet another matter she wasn't sure where to take her stand on. Not in so many words anyway.
Two fingers pressed against Rachel's temple. She needed to clear her head, even if only for an hour, before she really did get a headache.
Maybe a song would help. She'd fallen out of her daily habit of posting a new one to her MySpace page a while ago and her fans had been clamouring for her return. Okay, not clamouring but requesting, a few of them at least. Recording a new video would both satisfy her admirers and help her clear her head. Singing always did. Now all she had to do was pick a song.
Rachel leaned forward in her seat and reached out her good hand to tap the spacebar on her ergonomically arranged keyboard then dug out her video camera to check the battery level while her computer woke up.
* click-click... click... click*
The glow from the monitor reflected in her eyes as she scanned the scrolling list of song titles.
No... no... no... maybe... no... n- wait. Where had that one come from.
The pointer hovered over the out of place tune as Rachel tried to decipher its origins.
Oh right... Finn had put it there for her to listen to during one of their assignments for Glee. She had, of course, shot down the suggestion before the boy could even hit play.
Hmm...
*Click*
Peirce Home, Brittany's Room, 10:26pm
"MmmMMmmm!"
"Like that do ya?" Santana smirked as her gaze traveled over her lover's body to meet Brittany's
"MmmHmmm." The blonde purred, her head pressed back into the cartoon duck patterned cover on her pillow, another sultry moan playing up the length of her slender throat as the sable haired girl continued her tender caress.
"MmmmMAhh ha ha- That tickles!" Brit cried out, jerking her foot out of Santana's grip. "You always tickle just when it gets good."
"Not my fault you have ticklish tootsies or that your laugh is so damn sexy." Santana replied, making a playful but unsuccessful grab for her girlfriend's feet. Her plea of innocence met by a pink tongue extended in her direction.
"Mmm... Yummy." Santana licked her lips as she started to crawl up the length of the other teen.
Brittany squealed in equal parts fear and pleasure as she caught the hungry, predatory grin set under desire darkened eyes slowly moving closer, her half hearted attempt to escape cut short when she felt the other girl's fingers tighten around her waist.
"Mine." the more dominant of the pair growled, pressing her thigh between Brittany's before pulling the blonde against her. "Mine." growled out again as Santana adjusted her grip, running her hands up the taut sides of her girlfriend then along her arms until the latina seized both wrists and pressed them to the mattress as she continued to move in. Not that Brittany was offering any resistance by this point, far from it in fact, the movements of the dancer's lithe body clearly intent only on increasing the amount of contact between them.
"Mine." One final claim, the sultry husk of the voice above her sent a shiver through Brit's body just as their lips pressed together.
"MmmmMmMmmm."
Santana's hands relaxed as the kiss progresses, eventually slipping free in search of other, more interesting places to explore and the blonde wasted no time in rolling them both over till their positions were reversed.
"Love you." The blonde said softly after she broke the kiss and followed the words with a gentle rain of feather light pecks along the line of Santana's jaw.
"Lll-Aahhh damn baby, you don't know what that does to me."
"Yeah I do." Brit replied, shooting the other girl a smirk every bit as knowing and telling as any she'd received from her other half. "But you still have to say it."
"You make me so we-"
"Not that silly... the other one."
Santana's lips curled into a smile so soft and loving that most of the people who thought they knew her wouldn't have been able to recognize her. "B, my B, I love you."
"Aaaand?"
"And I'm yours. One hundred percent. From now until forever."
"Much better. Now what was that other thing you were saying?"
Santana's laugh lasted only as long as it took Brittany to return her lips to the other girl's flesh where it devolved into a sound that could only be described as pure, auditory, lust.
"Je-sus B! You trying to kill me?"
"No. You neck just tastes really good."
"FuuhhhAhhhh GOD YES!"
"That bit tastes pretty good to." Brittany's slightly muffled voice drifted up from Santana's chest.
"Ohhh Baby... Mmm..."
"San?"
Santana struggled against the urge to press Brittany back to the task at hand, or lips in this case. "Yeah?"
"Why do we hate Rachel?"
Santana sighed heavily, talk about a mood killer. Roughly brushing her dark locks from her face she sat up. "Sweetie, so not the time to bring up RuPaul."
"You want more?"
"Hell yes."
"Then answer the question."
Evil. That's what her girlfriend was. Oh sure, the world saw her as this easy going, innocent, simple blonde but that just proved how evil the girl currently drawing a light circle around her belly button in that on-so-distracting way of hers really was. No one who wasn't evil could so perfectly pull off a deception like that. It didn't help that Santana had long ago giving up trying to fight the fact that she was firmly wrapped around those damned, teasing fingers.
"Because she's Berry."
"That's not a very good reason."
"Because Q hates her."
"Why?"
"I don't know. Why don't you ask her ab-"
"Okay."
"Wha- B!" Santana bleated in objection as the other cheerleader pulled away to retrieve her cell phone. "I didn't mean right now."
"But I want to know."
"Why? Is this because you went over to her place? Did she say something to you?"
"Yes. She said 'Hello' and 'Would you like a snack' and -"
"I meant... B seriously, this can wait."
"But-"
"Baby please. I have to get home in, like, thirty minutes. You really want to waste our special time talking about Treasure Trail."
Brittany's fingers paused in their dance across her mobile's keyboard. "We'll ask her tomorrow?"
"Promise. Now come back to bed."
"Okay." Brit tossed her cell back onto her desk, The half composed text message glowing up at the ceiling till the screen went dark.
That does it, Santana thought, I'm definitely going to have to get B to do some undercover on the midget now. That bitch is messing up my sexy fun time and nobody gets away with that.