Suddenly things were almost back to normal. Well normal for Quinn, which was quite a different barometer than the average person. She still had ditched on therapy, needed to make amends with Rachel, and had a whole plethora of other problems that were gnawing at the back of her mind. Yet, things were now good with Mallory and she had an amazing opportunity to fix the one thing she could never forgive herself for: the way she had treated Rachel Berry. Sure, it was probably the 10th time Rachel had given her the chance, but Quinn was determined to succeed where so many other times she had failed. It was something about being a more mature college girl that gave her the confidence where usually there was none.

Things were beginning to feel right with her roommate after the awkwardness the two had both helped create. Mallory had finally spent the night in the room again Monday night and the two were exchanging casual banter. Quinn had to be honest, she wanted more. Not the stupid date she had foolishly asked for, but she felt a strong friendship brewing and she just hoped the events of the past couple weeks hadn't ruined it. Because despite her weird desire to randomly experiment by kissing Quinn, Mallory seemed like a good person. Quinn needed a whole lot more of that in her life and even though she was the most important piece, Rachel was just the start.

Quinn was lifted out of her thoughts by her phone vibrating on her desk in the study room. She recognized the area code but not the number and figured it might be someone at her new job because she didn't know the number by heart yet. She quickly scooped up her phone and headed into the hallway to take the call.

"Hello?" she answered.

"Hi, is this Quinn Fabray?" the tentative voice on the line asked. Quinn didn't recognize the voice at all and figured someone from work would just ask for her by first name only.

"Yes."

"Hello Quinn, this is Dr. Emily Taylor, you had an appointment with me last Thursday that you didn't show up for and I just wanted to make sure everything was okay and see if you wanted to reschedule?"

Quinn is suddenly racked by a whole range of feelings. Her whole body starts to go numb and she suddenly feels nervous and put on the spot. Her desire to hang up the phone is overwhelmed by her guilt at not showing up to her therapy session in the first place. The last she needs is to feel worse about that and hanging up would accomplish exactly that.

Finally she begins to contemplate the questions she was just asked and it finally gets her to calm down slightly. Is she okay? I made an appointment to therapy and then didn't show up, and you're supposed to be a doctor? Quinn decides to hold that thought back and instead focuses on the idea of rescheduling her appointment. Suddenly she realizes what this means and stops panicking. She wanted to schedule another session and this call just makes it easier. Plus, with Santana already agreeing to help her, she feels confident about showing up the next time.

"Quinn?" Clearly all her thinking was taking time and she still hasn't said anything. The doctor shows the first signs of getting impatient and Quinn hopes, but highly doubts that won't be a problem in therapy. Her feelings have a way of making others get exasperated.

"Sorry, and I'm also sorry about missing the last appointment. I would really like to schedule another one." The first step in fixing her guilt is apologizing. The second is actually showing up to the next session.

"Okay, well then I will keep you on the books for the same time this Thursday then. Can I count on you to be there?"

"Perfect, yes ma'am I will be there." It's funny that Santana gives her all the confidence in the world. If she were on her own it probably wouldn't happen, but knowing that her friend has her back, she'll be there, she'd bet every last dollar on it.

"Good to hear, I look forward to meeting you."

After they say their goodbyes, Quinn texts Santana:

Therapy session, Thursday 3pm, I need you to get me there.

Quinn's sudden doubt that Santana might not be there for her because of her harsh words at dinner are quickly erased when she receives a text back 30 seconds later.

I told you girl, I always gots your back. Pick you up at 2.

Really, what did she do to deserve a friend like this?

####

Late Tuesday night Quinn finds herself hoping on the metro and off to her first shift of work. Other than a brief babysitting stint during the craziness that was sophomore year of high school, this is her first job. She finds herself surprisingly nervous considering the job seems right up her alley. Selling dresses should come easy to a girl who seemingly wears nothing else.

Quinn first meets the owner Beverly who is a short middle-aged woman with a pixie cut. For someone who owns a clothing store that sells some beautiful dresses, Beverly's fashion sense isn't impressing Quinn. The woman is wearing a somewhat dumpy cardigan and jeans. She keeps the thought to herself, but it's certainly not what she was expected.

Beverly quickly pairs her up with Nina, another college aged girl who fits more into what Quinn expected of the employees. Nina is sporting her blonde hair in a bob and is wearing a white cardigan belted around a pretty pink dress. It's an outfit much more to Quinn's liking and she figures the girl probably bought the dress here.

"So Quinn, before we get started, why don't you tell me a bit about yourself?" Nina asks.

It's a question Quinn truly hates. She tries not to get a bad opinion of Nina off the bat since the girl seems nice and has good fashion sense, but Quinn can't stand being asked such ridiculous open-ended questions about her life. "Umm…well there's not much to tell really." Quinn figures that will show the girl, give me a stupid question and I'll give you a stupid answer.

"Let me give you a friendly tip Quinn, sales is as much about the product as it is about creating a connection with your customer. You have to be friendly and know how to answer questions as well as start conversations. So, let's start by trying that with me, pretend I'm your friend if that makes it easier."

Quinn is instantly struck by how badly her plan backfired. So, her first few minutes of work and she has already failed test numero uno.

"Right, sorry, I'm not a big fan of talking about myself, but talking, yeah I can totally do that," Quinn says in an attempt to recover. It's also a weak attempt at boosting her own confidence, she isn't quite sure she believes it.

Nina smiles at her and Quinn finds herself thinking that the girl is quite pretty. "That's fine, but how else are we going to get to know each other Quinn? Just answer some easy questions, are you in school? How old are you? Where are you from? You know the basics, I'm not looking for your biggest dreams or greatest fears here."

Of course, the basics, Quinn can keep it basic. She wishes she had just answered the question in the first place. "Well I'm 19, I go to NYU, from Ohio though." She decides she should add a little more to maybe try to start making a good impression. "I decided to work here because I really love dresses as you can tell." Come on Quinn, you can do better than this. "I must say I really love your dress also, where did you get it?"

"Well that's more like it. Complimenting customers fashion is always a good way to go, unless you actually think it's hideous. Though I guess if you are a good liar, it doesn't matter. You're not a good liar Quinn, are you?" Quinn silently pats herself on the back, but then has to consider being asked if she is a good liar. What an odd question. She might be good at holding back the truth, but saying lies out loud is a completely different thing.

"No, I don't think so."

"Good, then you really do like my dress! I got it here, but we don't carry it anymore, so I'm afraid you are out of luck. And now is the time when you express interest in your customer."

Okay, so Quinn has to admit this is honestly one of the weirdest experiences in her life and she can't say this is anything like she expected when she took the job. Still, she decides to play along and see where it takes her. "So are you in school as well?"

"How nice of you to ask, Quinn. I am actually in my last year at the New York Academy of the Dramatic Arts or NYADA for short."

Quinn can't hold in the laughter that even in this huge city, the world seems so small. "Really? Do you know Rachel Berry or Kurt Hummel?" She finally feels like she has some foothold in this conversation with Nina.

"RACHEL BERRY! How do you know Rachel Berry?" The outburst catches Quinn off guard and she is back to feeling awkward. Nina's entire mood changed with the mention of the girl she is attempting to finally befriend.

"We actually went to high school together and uhh…"

"Rachel Berry stole the lead in the NYADA musical from me. I am forced to be the understudy to the wretched girl. You better not be friends with her Quinn, that girl is pure evil."

Quinn is thankful she was cut off because she was about to stretch the truth and claim that she was sort of friends with Rachel. She instead is finding herself wondering what is so awful about Rachel that could ever make this girl hate her so much. Even in the hay days of torture, Quinn never really hated Rachel. In the end, she decides to chalk it up to a penchant for drama that probably goes along with the school.

"Umm…no we're not really friends, we were kind of enemies for most of high school, she is kind of annoying." So this situation is totally not helping Quinn adjust to the potential friendship with Rachel. The last thing she needs is to be forced to pretend she hates Rachel at her job. She comes to the conclusion that the store is pretty small and business is rather slow, so the odds of her working with Nina on a consistent basis are probably low.

A smile slowly draws itself across Nina's face when Quinn calls Rachel annoying. "Oh my god, so annoying. Anyway, let's move on because talking about her will just get me in a bad mood, as you can probably tell."

"Yes, lets move onto the art of selling clothes." She feels incredibly awkward and just wants to move onto what she came her to do. She makes a mental note to ask Rachel about Nina because she really wants to know what this girls deal is.

The rest of the shift is mostly spent watching Nina sell to the various customers who enter the store. In the end Quinn decides this job should be pretty easy. The one thing she is worried about is telling the truth when customers honestly look terrible in the clothes they try on. She is definitely not one for sugar coating.

It doesn't take long for the end of her shift to roll around. Quinn's fear that being here will interrupt her attempting at befriending Rachel is once again reignited on her way out. Nina tells her how they must hang out sometime and talk about how awful Rachel Berry is. In the end, Quinn decides to cross that bridge when she comes to it. She already feels awful about letting Nina bash Rachel without standing up to her. Quinn is almost positive Rachel got the lead because she is the most talented person she's ever met because short of sending a girl to a crack house, she has never known Rachel to be a 'wretched' person. She spends the walk home trying to solve the puzzle that is Nina and Rachel and finds herself extremely anxious to ask Rachel about it.

####

Quinn returned from class on Wednesday feeling slightly overwhelmed. Between work, Rachel, therapy and the two papers she's had hoisted upon her this week she is going to be a busy girl. The nice thing is that besides working with Nina and therapy, she's mostly looking forward to everything else. Some people would probably call her weird for enjoying writing papers, but there's something to be said in convincing others that you are right. Quinn has a certain odd appreciation for school work and reading.

As much as she is looking forward to her Saturday with Rachel, Quinn can't help but feel extremely apprehensive. Despite the amount of chances Rachel has already given her, everything in her gut tells her this is the last opportunity to earn this friendship. It wasn't until a few days ago that Quinn finally realized just how badly she wants this. Quinn chalks it up to the guilt she feels for everything she did to Rachel in high school.

However, when she thinks about it, in the hours of the night as she tries to fall asleep, Quinn can't help but be reminded that if she really wanted to serve Rachel's best interests, she might just leave her alone. Nothing about her interactions with Rachel have been particularly positive. Even though she is dying to change that, she doesn't really believe in herself.

Quinn is outlining one of her papers when her phone rings. The screen lights up and reads an incoming call from Rachel Berry. Quinn suddenly feels like a bundle of nerves. It was so much easier when she didn't want anything from Rachel. She never felt like she had anything to lose, it's a feeling that scares her.

"Hello," Quinn says as she answers the phone.

"Hi, Quinn, it's Rachel, I wanted confirm your attendance for our plans this Saturday and finalize what we will be doing."

Quinn can't help but laugh lightly into the phone. Rachel is without doubt a little crazy, but for some reason Quinn finds she can get on board with this now. She thinks it has something to do with a combination of growing up and Rachel toning it down slightly over the years. Still, a Rachel Berry that isn't a little bit crazy isn't Rachel Berry at all.

"Of course you did. You know we could have just texted." Quinn can't help taking a little attack at the fact that Rachel refuses to send text messages. She still finds it ridiculous.

"Quinn, not only is texting extremely informal, but I believe you are well aware that I refuse to do so anymore and I am sure you know why." Rachel sounds somewhat annoyed, probably because she knows Quinn is just needling her.

"I am certainly aware Rachel, but I still find it ridiculous considering I was the one who almost died and my fingers still maintain the ability to type and press the send button." Okay, so that whole being nice thing is going to take some work.

"Yes Quinn, you almost died. Having that on my conscience is quite enough thank you very much. Now if we can please return to the issue at hand, did you have any input as far as our plans on Saturday?"

Quinn has already decided to let Rachel plan the night. "Well, the show is at 8, but aside from that I figured you could pick dinner."

"Perfect, I had just the place in mind. I will make myself present at your dorm room at 3:30."

She decides to breath deeply and ignore the fact that Rachel is coming over at what seems like an extraordinarily early time. She wonders if the girl has more things planned then dinner. The amount of time they will be spending together makes Quinn excited, but in the back of her mind is a worrying feeling that it's just more time to screw things up.

"That sounds great," she manages to reply calmly, "my dorm is at 55 East 10th Street, I'm in room 314."

"Great, well then if we do not have any further business, I must get back to vocal exercises."

"Wait!" Quinn finds herself nearly screaming.

"Yes?" Rachel sounds rather surprise at the outburst and Quinn can't blame her.

"Well, I was wondering, what is the deal with you and Nina?" She has been dying to ask this question since her shift ended. Even though it's only been a day, the issue has been distracting her way too much.

After a slight silence on the other end of the phone Rachel seems to recover. "I'm sorry Quinn, but it's been an extremely long day…who is Nina?"

It doesn't take long for Quinn to realize that the confusion is completely warranted. Rachel would have no idea that Quinn would know someone from NYADA besides Kurt and herself.

"She said she's your understudy for the musical. She doesn't seem to think too highly of you," Quinn explains putting it nicely.

"OH MY GOD! Quinn! How do you know her?"

Quinn is unsure whether her knowing Nina is that surprising or mentioning the girl's name has struck a nerve. "Well…I kind of work with her."

"Geez Quinn, you have the worst luck. That girl is such a drama queen that she makes me look calm and normal. She is incredibly talented, but I beat her out fair and square for the lead and she accused me of sleeping with the director! As if I would ever. She hardly gets along with anyone."

If there's one thing Quinn is sure of it's that Rachel won the role based on her talent.

"So basically, she's you in high school?"

"HEY!"

"Relax Rachel, I'm just kidding. She did seem slightly crazy. I was very curious what the deal was, so thanks for filling me in." Quinn finds herself slightly disappointed that there isn't a bigger reason behind Nina's attitude towards Rachel. She was very hopefully that maybe her new co-worker wasn't crazy, but Rachel has confirmed the worst.

"Sure thing Quinn. I will see you Saturday then?"

The way she asks it implies that is it indeed a question and Quinn is slightly disappointed that Rachel doesn't seem convinced this is actually happening. Quinn is reminded she still has a long way to go.

"Yeah, 3:30, I really can't wait." She tries to reassure Rachel that this is something she is looking forward to.

"Have a good night Quinn."

"You too Rachel."

Quinn sighs as she realizes all the things keeping her from Saturday already being here. Rachel should be the least of her concerns with a therapy session coming up on Thursday.