Puck held the door of the small bar four blocks down from Quinn's apartment open as Quinn then Rachel walked through it. There's was a specials chalk board just inside the entrance, and a small stage against the back wall.

"It's open mike night?!" Rachel squealed jumping up and down and clapping her hands in front of Quinn.

"I thought you might like that." Quinn smirked.

"What have you gotten us into, babe?" Puck placed an arm around Quinn's back.

"I resent that, Noah." Rachel glared at him. "I do think I'll have a drink before I take the stage, though."

"Now we're talking. Let's go to the bar." Puck grabbed Quinn's hand and all but dragged her behind him. Rachel fought stomping behind them, balling her hands into fists.

One drink quickly turned to three for Quinn, who was moderately tipsy but well enough sober to know that Rachel, who was currently nursing drink number five, wasn't exactly pacing herself as planned. Or maybe Quinn was just underestimating Rachel again, she couldn't be sure. It hadn't taken Quinn long to lose track of how many drinks Puck, who was taking shots and drinking beer, had had. Clearly Quinn was going to be the most sober tonight, the responsible one. Quinn looked between Puck and Rachel, cheersing two shot glasses together and throwing them back... And Quinn thought, screw that and turned to the bartender.

Rachel

Rachel realized she was slouching and straightened her posture. Her head immediately spun and she knew she was drunk. She turned slightly, carefully, to the left on her barstool to smile at Quinn but fell short. Puck now stood in front of Quinn with one arm outstretched asking for Quinn's hand.

"My lady." Puck beckoned to Quinn. Rachel watched with horrified eyes as Quinn smiled like a damn school girl, and took his hand. She even had the indecency to blush. He made her blush?! Rachel stifled gagging sounds and wished suddenly that Santana were here with her. Santana would have something whitty to say to make fun of the couple and especially a giddy Quinn Fabray.

"That isn't very nice you know?" A brunette girl slid onto the bar stool next to Rachel where Quinn had been sitting moments ago, smiling at Rachel.

"What isn't?" Rachel inquired. The young woman was tall, slender, and very pretty. Honestly she reminded Rachel a little bit of Santana.

"Making gagging noises at your friends. They're obviously disgustingly in love." The girl smirked.

"Don't remind me." Rachel muttered under her breath.

"I'm Avery." She said, holding her hand out.

"Rachel." Rachel was surprised that when she gave the girl her hand in return, she didn't shake it, but brought it up to her lips and kissed Rachel's hand instead. Rachel now understood the pretty stranger wasnt just being friendly.

"It's a pleasure, Rachel. May I buy you a drink?"

"I think I actually need to hold off on another drink for a little while." Rachel laughed.

"How about a dance then?" Rachel looked out at the dance floor where Puck was in the middle of twirling a smiling Quinn, and thought, why not.

"Sure." Rachel stood up. "But I must warn you, I'm a professional."

"I dont doubt that for a second", Avery answered, admiring Rachel's ass as she followed her to the dance floor.

Rachel didn't lead Avery to dance right next to Quinn and Puck like one would probably expect. She was more tactful than that. Rachel instead directed Avery to a spot a few feet and a couple pair of dancers away from Quinn and Puck, and began moving sensually to the music. She had been in glee club long enough to know that Quinn's attention would be drawn to her as soon as she started dancing. Quinn would always notice, and then try not to notice, anytime Rachel started to move a certain way. Rachel had to say, too, Avery was holding her own keeping up with Rachel. She kept a casual eye on Quinn as she exchanged small talk and danced with Avery. Rachel hadn't seen the exact moment when Quinn had taken notice to her again, but by the angry flush of Quinn's face and neck, she knew Quinn had finally noticed.

Quinn

"Quinn." Puck tried to get the girl's attention. "Quinn." He tried again. Nothing but a stronger grip on his arm. "Quinn, those nails hurt when you dig em straight into my skin like that." He whined. Quinn realized she had a death grip, nails dug deep into the flesh of his arm.

"I'm sorry." Quinn shook her head, physically trying to shake the images of Rachel dancing all up on a stranger from her mind. "Let's go back to the bar." Quinn said and didn't wait for Puck to respond before walking off the dance floor.

At the song's end, Rachel and her new friend were next to Quinn and Puck at the bar, ordering drinks from the bartender as he returned with the ones the couple had just ordered. When he had left again, Quinn bit the inside of her cheek fighting to be polite through introductions. Quinn knew Rachel was perfectly entitled to dance and spend time with anyone she wanted, but it still had Quinn's stomach knotting up in jealousy.

"So how do you guys all know each other?" Avery asked.

"We were all in glee club together during high school." Puck answered her with his normal charming smile.

"Noah is in the navy now. I'm in NYC, and Quinn is based here in L.A.." Rachel continued.

"So this is a reunion of sorts?" Avery responded.

"Exactly." Quinn answered. The bartender was back with Rachel and Avery's drinks. Avery payed for both. "What do you do, Avery?" Quinn questioned coldly.

"Im a back up dancer for the television show "Making It". I know it isn't a starring role but it's a start." Rachel beamed at Avery's response.

"Oh my gosh, are you serious?" Rachel squealed, smacking Avery's knee. "It's such a small world." Rachel looked, bug eyed, at Quinn, then again at Avery. "Quinn just got a job writing for that show!"

"You did?" Puck and Avery said at the same time. Quinn sat, jaw dropped.

"She did." Answered Rachel for her. "She sent in a few songs she had written for their original song department. They loved it, and hired her on as a freelance writer." Quinn looked shocked at Rachel. She had updated the brunette briefly on her recent career achievements, but she hadn't realized Rachel was paying such close attention. "Quinn is always scribbling in her notebook writing new music. I'd love to hear something." Rachel finished, grinning at Quinn.

"It is open mike night, babe." Puck encouraged.

"I'm sure I'll be dancing to it soon, so Id love to get a listen in now." Avery followed.

Rachel looked at Quinn like she was winning something, knowing Quinn was backed into a corner. Three against one, she couldn't say no. Everything Rachel had said was true. Quinn had sent some music and lyrics into the show, and they had liked it.

The show was about a group of friends and lovers trying to make it big in California. Quinn had seen the pilot episode just after she had arrived in L.A., and it really resonated with Quinn. She was reminded of high school and the glee club by the show, and this gave her plenty to write about. Apparently the producers saw something they liked, and Quinn was suddenly a freelance music writer for one of the hottest new television shows in Hollywood.

"My first song actually debuts during next Sunday's episode."

"That's after I'm already back in New York. Give me a preview?" Rachel pleaded with Quinn, flashing puppy dog eyes at Quinn.

"Fine." Quinn relented and walked up to the stage.

Rachel

"You got this, babe!" Puck screamed behind Quinn. Rachel wanted to poke his eyes out. She watched Quinn mount the stage, and was happily surprised when Quinn took a seat on the piano bench on stage. Rachel didn't even know Quinn could play piano. How long had she been able to? That would seem like an awfully selfish ability to keep a secret throughout glee club. Rachel forgot every other thought, however, when Quinn started to play. She was completely enthralled in Quinn, whose eyes were fixed strictly, confidently, to Rachel's as she began to sing.

"A young honest girl

Telling secrets I couldn't bear to speak

Sent my heart on a whirl

When my head was weak

Flash forward

With a star that bright, there was always something brewing sordid

We were just fighting to get it right

But I couldn't accept that I might

Love her

I think I love her

Through every passing season

She's the reason

To carry on

Just a poor bastard stuck in an unrequited love song"

Rachel felt the tears brimming her eyes as Quinn continued to sing and play soft piano behind her voice. Quinn had yet to break eye contact with Rachel. So Rachel fought every blink.

"I know this song." Avery whispered. "One of the guys that's stuck in this awful kind of love triangle on the show has been rehearsing it like crazy the last week. He's been in love with this girl since forever, but he always..."

"Ssshhhh." Rachel interrupted her. Rachel already knew the real story behind the song. She had lived it.

"Always there to keep me in line

I'd have to be blind

Not to see all the signs

That I

Love her

I think I love her

Through every passing season

She's the reason

To carry on

Just a poor bastard stuck in an unrequited love song

Here I am

Here I am

All I am

All I am

Just a poor bastard stuck in an unrequited love song

Youre my love song"

Rachel wiped tears from her cheeks as Quinn ended the song and did the same. Quinn stood, finally breaking eye contact, and half ran to the bathroom. Rachel turned around to see if Puck had seen the exchange, fortunately he was too busy flirting with a waitress to notice his girlfriend crying on stage.

"I should check on her." Rachel told Avery, pointing towards the bathroom.

"Yeah, by all means." Rachel could tell Avery was no fool, and certainly more observant than Noah. She had a look in her eye, almost like pity. "And Rachel?" Avery stopped her with a hand around her wrist, "Good luck." She gave Rachel a sad little smile, and released her hold on Rachel's wrist.

Rachel pushed through the door to the women's room and found Quinn white knuckled and red faced grasping one of the small sinks. Rachel leaned her back against the sink next to Quinn.

"That was beautiful." Rachel began cautiously.

"Don't. " Quinn muttered through clenched teeth.

"I'm simply complimenting you for a job wel..."

"Rachel, damn it." Quinn smacked her hand against the side of the sink, interrupting Rachel. "I'm telling you not right now". Rachel jumped at the noise and near growl of Quinn's tone. It had been a very long time since Quinn had used a tone of voice like that with Rachel. Rachel placed her hands on her hips and stomped her foot once.

"Why?"

"I just need a few minutes to calm down, Rachel, or a very different side of me is going to make an appearance". Quinn still hadn't looked at Rachel. Rachel recognized the old threat between Quinn's words as her tone became more and more familiar. But Rachel wasn't the frightened sixteen year old she once was.

"Because youre vulnerable? Because you sang that song?" Rachel's voice was rising. "Or is it because your boyfriend out there couldn't give you his attention for a full two minutes without hitting on whatever happened to walk past." Rachel was pretty much yelling by the end of the question that she spoke as more of a statement. Seeing Quinn with Puck tonight, real or not, brought out insecurities in Rachel she didn't even realize she had. Quinn finally released her grip on the sink edge and turned to face Rachel. She immediately realized, however, the Quinn that faced her now, was not the Quinn she had been with for the last eight days. Quinn looked at Rachel, almost through her really, with cold eyes and straight lips.

"Yep, that's it." Quinn said, stepping closer to Rachel.

"What?" Rachel responded, momentarily forgetting their conversation.

"I'm so upset because before I could even get halfway through my song, my boyfriend's", Quinn enunciated the word, "attention was pulled away by some waitress's ass". Quinn didn't flinch or blink the entire time she spoke. The only movements she made were the steps she took closer to Rachel, bringing them nearly nose to nose by Quinn's last words. Rachel stared back into the cold, blank hazel before her, and she knew she had messed up. She pushed too far. She should have turned around and walked straight back out that door when Quinn had warned her. Rachel saw how close Quinn was to the edge, but she kept pushing anyway. As the bathroom door slammed shut, leaving Rachel alone, she knew she had lost her.

When Rachel had made her way out to the bar again, Quinn and Puck were both standing next to the door. Rachel got the hint and joined them, eyes on the floor. They walked the few blocks back to Quinn's with the couple in the lead and Rachel shuffling awkwardly behind them.

When they arrived at the locked loft door, Quinn dropped Puck's hand she had been holding to search her purse for her keys.

"I see you still aren't wearing your ring." Puck casually noted. Quinn's back immediately stiffened as she looked back for a brief second at Rachel.

"Not now, Puck." Quinn warned, shooting another quick glance at Rachel as she opened the door.

"Oh, babe, don't worry. My little Jew bro knows all about my proposal." Quinn turned around, jaw dropped, and looked from Puck to Rachel.

"You didn't really think he picked out that ring himself, did you?" Rachel asked Quinn matter of factly.

Author's Note:

I tried to give you guys a longer chapter this time, instead of breaking it up into a couple. As always, thank you all so much for reading, following, reviewing, and all that you do. You guys are all great. :) To PinkDrinksForAll, thank you so much for your honest opinion and for your suggestions. I'm still learning a lot about this as I go. Thank you all for bearing with me and helping me along the way. Much much love to you all. Please continue to leave reviews, give me your suggestions and opinions, and all that jazz. :) More soon.