I like the names Melody and Violet… I want to see if I can find a name in a song so that it can be sung to Rachel… Any one know some songs? And I really like the suggestion to pull from Broadway. I will figure it out. Thanks for all the really great suggestions!
I really enjoyed writing the last chapter because of the three boys. I used to baby sit three boys, not with my girlfriend or anything but they were so sweet and around that age. I know how crazy three boys can be haha. I hope you guys enjoy the following chapters. And thanks for the kind words
Quinn sat in Glee Club on Monday, day dreaming about Rachel, more specifically about kissing Rachel. Her thoughts had scarcely left the brunette ever since Friday evening. The kiss they had shared had been magically. It was everything Quinn had hoped for and more. The way Rachel slipped her fingers through her blonde hair and the feeling of Rachel's hips underneath her hands. Quinn had to bit back a moan just remembering the event.
"Is Rachel here?" Kurt suddenly asked slamming a pile of old yearbooks on the piano. Quinn would have ignored him if he had not said Rachel's name but now her interested was peaked.
"Not yet." Finn sounded relieved at that. Quinn rolled her eyes.
"Good. I need to discuss the yearbook photo with you. I have been doing some research." Kurt dramatically opened one of the books. "Exhibit A, Patrick Rice, seen here with a Hitler moustache and rice paddy hat. Shortly after the yearbook came out he suffered a mental break down. He is now the homeless man who sleeps outside of the public library."
"Patches?" Quinn asked. Kurt nodded solemnly.
"He barks at my mom." Brittany looked horrified.
"Exhibit B," Kurt continued, "Susan Green, seen here with a knife stuck out of her head, which turns out to be an eerie foreshadowing of events to come."
A couple of the Glee kids gasped. Quinn scoffed, "What is your point here Kurt?"
"I propose we do not fight Principal Figgin's ruling on this." Kurt looked around at his classmates, "Glee Club should not have a photo this year."
"Glee Club is not having a photo this year?" Quinn was surprised.
"Yes we have only been talking about it for the last ten minutes. Sue convinced Figgins to take it out so other students could not deface the library copies." Mercedes said incredulously, "Where have you been?"
Quinn was going to come back with a biting remark when Mr. Schuester walked in, "Hey gang, looking at some old Thunder Claps?"
Everyone smiled uncomfortably at their cheerful teacher, "Don't you worry. I am going straight to Figgins and I will make sure that each and everyone of your smiling faces will be in the yearbook."
Everyone looked distraught as the choir director left the room. Artie lamented, "We are doomed."
"Why are we doomed?" Rachel asked in a chipper manner as she joined the other Glee Club members. Surprisingly long, tan legs momentarily distracted Quinn. Rachel had her floral skirt hiked over her small baby bump so you could barely tell it was there at all, which left more leg than usual exposed.
"Quinn?" Rachel snapped her out of it since no one else was talking, "What is going on?"
"Um, Sue has convinced Principal Figgins to cut the Glee photo due to the excessive vandalism of it in the Thunder Clap." Quinn said gingerly.
"What?" Rachel whirled around and stormed right out the door.
"We are so doomed." Tina sighed.
Rachel was on the warpath. It was not as though she needed anymore yearbook cameos. She made it a point to be involved with many extracurricular activities including Debate Team, the Model UN, Volunteer Club, Renaissance Club, and The African American Students Union (her father was black after all.) It was important for her to be a well-rounded student so that she could get into the best college possible, that being Julliard. Not to mention all of the pictures where a great opportunity to practice for the paparazzi.
Besides all of that, she wanted to look back on her yearbook and be able to show her children, maybe this child, what she was like in high school. She wanted to share this important memory with her. All the other pictures meant nothing to Rachel but she really loved Glee Club and she was going to get that picture. She barged into the principal's office, coming in strong, "I am very sorry to interrupt Mr. Schuester, but Principal Figgins, as you may know this is my very first year in Glee. I have just been informed that New Directions has not been afforded a yearbook photo. As you might expect my two gay dads have a very close relationship with our local branch of the ACLU. And if it is up to me-"
Mr. Schuester suddenly interrupted her mile-a-minute rant, placing his hand on her shoulder, "I am one step ahead of you Rachel. The Glee Club is going to have a photo."
"Fantastic. Thank you so much." Rachel beamed at the dazed principal and happily left the office.
"Hey Rachel." Quinn was suddenly by her side as if she had been waiting outside the office.
"Hello Quinn." Rachel's smiled widened.
"How did it go?" the head cheerleader asked.
"Wonderful. We are in the yearbook." Rachel confirmed.
"Good, though I do not think the others will be as excited." Quinn warned.
"Why not?" Rachel was perplexed.
"They seem to think that having a yearbook photo will further exposure and promote more bullying." Quinn told her.
"That is ridiculous." Rachel said indignantly, "They should be proud of Glee and what we stand for. I mean we have come from so far behind and I just know we are going to take Sectionals."
"I know." Quinn shook her head mildly disappointed in their fellow teammates, though she could understand where they were coming from. Since she had joined Glee Club her status as the top dog had wavered. The other Cheerios would obviously whisper behind her back and once a girl had questioned her choreography. The daring girl had to run laps for the rest of their 2-hour practice. Still she could feel her power slipping ever so slightly.
"Well, it might just be you and me." Rachel shrugged.
"Let's hope it does not come to that." Quinn laughed.
"Alright gang." Mr. Schuester rubbed his hands together, "While I have secured us a spot in the yearbook. I could unfortunately only get a quarter page in the back. Now that is enough for two students. So we are going to elect two co-captains to represent New Directions."
Rachel quickly jumped to her feet, "Fellow Glee clubbers, I would just like to say a few words on how I would best represent you."
Before she had a chance to barrel into her probably long-winded speech, Mercedes quickly interjected, "I nominate Rachel."
"Second." Kurt muttered.
"Okay." Mr. Schue drawled out and began to pass out pieces of paper. Rachel contentedly took her seat seeing her victory at hand. After everyone turned in their ballots, Mr. Schuester quietly tallied them then looking up, "Looks like everyone voted for Rachel, including Rachel."
Rachel smiled broadly, ecstatic to be in the yearbook for Glee. Mr. Schue went on, "But we need two people to be in the photo."
"That is all right Mr. Schue. We are happy to let Rachel do it." Artie said as he rolled his chair away with Tina following closely behind.
"Yeah, having two people is unnecessary." Kurt waved off with Mercedes in tow. The rest of the Glee Club began to file out except for Rachel who sat stunned in her seat. Where was their club pride? Quinn threw an apologetic shrug over her shoulder and went with Santana and Brittany.
"I'm sorry Rachel." The choir director looked disheartened. Rachel understood. After all of the time he spent trying to build the club up, the others were still ashamed to be in Glee. They still judged themselves based on the opinions of rest of the student body.
"Me too Mr. Schue." Rachel sighed.
"You know, sometimes kids don't like to hear things from their teachers. I mean we are adults, what do we know?" Mr. Schue joked feebly but Rachel managed a giggle, "Perhaps you could convince one of your teammates to join you."
"On it Mr. Schuester." Rachel said determinedly, "You can count on me."
The next day all Rachel had to prove from her efforts were sore feet and flimsy excuses. Mercedes was too busy to be in the photo because she was preparing for Kwanzaa, a holiday that did not start until the middle of December. Brittany would not do it because she would vandalize her own picture. Finn said he had football and friends. Artie said that if they took the picture together, she would have to lean over to make up for height difference and give her the appearance of stomach rolls. That excuse had been enough for Rachel, besides Artie really was much more of a follower. She had one more shot as she caught up to a certain blonde, "Quinn."
"Hey." The Cheerio smiled at her though she sounded wary. She must have heard of Rachel's crusade to recruit a co-leader.
"Quinn, I would like to offer you the opportunity to join me in the photo for the yearbook." Rachel went on anyways, trying to keep up with Quinn's longer strides.
"I don't know Rachel." Quinn looked uncomfortable, "I am already slipping in rank among the Cheerios."
"Are you really going to let other dictate your actions?" Rachel asked incredulously. Honestly she had expected more from Quinn. The head cheerleader stopped and turned to face Rachel in the middle of the bustling hallway.
"It is not that I am ashamed to be in Glee Club. I just have to take other things into consideration." She said evasively.
"Quinn you are a leader and leaders lead by example." Rachel lectured, "Glee Club did not work until you joined. We would have fallen apart by now if it were not for you. Please Quinn? I thought you care about me…"
At this point, Rachel deployed her best puppy dog eyes and she saw the blonde's resolve crumble, "You are right."
"So you will do the picture?" Rachel's eyes lit up.
"Yeah I will do the picture." Quinn agreed.
"Wonderful! I will see you tomorrow." Rachel wanted to hug the taller girl but she kept herself in check. Quinn nodded as they forced themselves away from each other.
Quinn was in the Cheerios locker room, preparing for her picture with Rachel. The persuasive diva had convinced her to partake in the photo in true Rachel fashion. Of course Rachel had been right about everything that she said. She loved Glee Club and she should be proud to be a part of it.
"Hey Quinn." The blonde turned to see a group Cheerios led by Amber, the girl who had questioned her dance moves. Quinn did not notice the arrogant girl held a slushie in her hands before it was too late. For the first time in her life, Quinn felt the cold sting of a slushie hitting her right in the face.
"You bitch!" Quinn growled.
"Now that is not nice." Amber reprimanded her while the other girls giggled.
"You are going to regret this." Quinn wiped red corn syrup from her eyes.
"I don't think so." Amber glared, "We heard about you being in the Glee club photo and just thought you should be wearing the right thing."
Quinn looked down at her soaked uniform and felt ice drip down her back. She was losing control; she had lost control, "It is not black and white anymore. Why can't the kids in Glee and Cheerios get along?"
"Don't give me any of that Kumbaya crap Quinn. The hierarchy is in place for a reason. The losers and mouth-breathers belong on the bottom and we belong on the top. Pick what side you choose carefully." Amber said ominously as she and her minions began to walk away.
"Oh Amber," Quinn called to her. She stopped but did not turn around to face her captain, "I would watch your back if I were you."
"I don't think that will be necessary anymore Quinn." She said unaffected by Quinn's threat. As soon as the three girls had gone, the head cheerleader slumped defeated against the lockers with the frozen beverage pooling at her feet. If she took the Glee Club picture with Rachel then she would sink further down the rungs of the social ladder. The more exposure she got in Glee Club the more difficult it would be to maintain her head bitch status. Quinn desperately wanted Rachel and being in Glee made her happier than she had been in a while but at the same time she was not ready to abdicate her crown to some uppity Junior.
"Rachel forgive me." Quinn muttered to herself as she went to the showers to clean off the humiliation.
Rachel realized that Quinn was not coming. She sat there, heart broken with the photographer urging her to hurry it up. It took all of her effort not to cry. She thought that Quinn cared. She thought that Quinn was better than the rest of them but it turned out she was as much of a coward as Finn.
"Um, I actually need to see your teeth." The photographer interrupted her thoughts, "It is my job to make you smile so do you think you can shake a leg here."
"I am sorry. I just need a moment." Rachel ignored the man's eye roll and went to look at herself in the mirror. She had to talk herself up. She could not let other people's opinions define her. She could not let the disappointment define her. Rachel knew that it would be lonely at the top. This was just another way to prepare for her life on the stage. She stared at her reflection, focusing on bringing up each corner of her mouth, parting her lips to reveal her pearly, white teeth until she achieved a believable smile. "Okay I am ready."
"Great." The photographer sounded completely uninterested. Rachel positioned herself so her left side was showing and gave him a bright smile. He snapped a few pictures then said, "Alright, I think we've got it."
"What? That is it? I have been practicing all week for this picture. I have not even shown you my over the shoulder pose." Rachel swiveled around to demonstrate, "See?"
"That is nice. But I have to go. I am directing a commercial for my brother and I have a casting call." He informed her.
"Casting call." Rachel's eyes lit up.
"Yeah, I am very excited about it really. I wrote the script and everything." He began to brag but Rachel was not listening. Big, fat teardrops were falling out of her eyes and she began to sniff, her face twisted into a pout and she started to cry.
"Oh no, oh no. We have time for some more. I can stay-" The photographer said panicking at the sight of her tears.
"I can cry on command." Rachel was suddenly back to being her bubbly self.
"What?" Confusion was evident in his tone.
"It is just one of my many acting skills and except for nudity and offensive language, I would be willing to do anything to break into the biz." Rachel said earnestly
"Okay," The photographer said, "That is great and you seem talented and all but I need more than one actor. Like a bunch more."
"I think I can help you with that." Rachel smiled broadly at the intimidated man.
Quinn had changed into her spare uniform so the only evidence that she had been attacked was her damp hair still in its regulation high ponytail. She wanted to slip into Glee rehearsal without talking to Rachel. The blonde was so ashamed for standing her up. Of course, Rachel was one step ahead of her.
"Where were you Quinn?" Rachel appeared by her side, hurt apparent in her big brown eyes.
"Rachel, some Cheerios slushied me in the locker room. I was washing off…" Her excuse sounded weak even to her ears.
"Don't give me that Quinn. You could have come and told me or messaged me. You did not have to leave me there to wonder." Rachel sniffed.
"I am sorry Rachel." Quinn implored her, "I chickened out. I have never been slushied before. What was I supposed to do? I would have completely lost the other cheerleaders respect."
"What is worse Quinn? Losing their respect or mine?" Rachel asked.
"Rachel don't-" Quinn felt Rachel's words stab at her heart.
"No Quinn. I am sorry but if you can not stand next to me in Glee, how can you stand next to me with a baby?" Rachel whispered to her.
"Rach," Quinn's voice cracked slightly but the diva turned away from her, prepared to ignore whatever the blond had to say. Quinn had to slink away and take the only available seat left next to Finn.
"Is my head shaped like a potato?" Finn was shifting his eyes about as if he were trying to see the shaped of his own head. Quinn rolled her eyes at him and sighed dejectedly. She had really messed this up with Rachel. They had not even started dating yet and she had managed to let her down. The head cheerleader vowed to herself to make this right. She needed another chance; another chance to stand proudly by Rachel in the school yearbook. It would have to wait though because she needed to pay attention to the brunette as she lectured the rest of the Glee Club.
"I realize now that everyone thinks of Glee Club as a joke. After all of the preaching about embracing your individuality and standing up against discrimination, you all are still scared, cowering behind your anonymity." Rachel's eyes lingered on Quinn and the blonde ducked her head in disgrace. "I hope you are happy with yourselves."
"And while you guys were concerning yourselves with your reputations. I have been securing the Glee Club's first big break." Rachel continued with pride.
"What do you mean?" Mercedes asked suspiciously.
"I mean that New Directions will be appearing…" She paused for affect, "in a television commercial."
"What? No way." The group began to buzz excitedly.
"Yes, we shall become local celebrities. And no one messes with celebrities. It will further secure Glee's spot at this school." Rachel said joining in the enthusiasm.
"What are we selling?" Santana asked, leaning forward.
"Are you ready for this?" Rachel prompted, "…Mattresses!"
"Hell yeah," Puck crowed.
"I am going to get some new, you know, nice, black suspenders." Artie told Tina.
"My mom is going to be so proud." Finn announced while everyone else chatted animatedly with one another.
Quinn stayed quiet though, beaming at Rachel who was bouncing up and down with pleasure. Quinn caught the smaller girl's eye and they shared a warm smile, until Rachel remembered that she was upset with Quinn. She went to join Kurt to talk to him about starting a gay/straight student alliance, which feel upon deaf ears. But that brief moment was enough to encourage Quinn. The Cheerio would make it up to Rachel some how.
"Okay let's go over the lines again." The director ordered. New Directions all stood around with their scripts in matching blue pajamas as costumes.
"Excuse me sir. But I was thinking, your script is great and all, but we are a Glee Club. I thought we would perform." Rachel interjected. She was thrilled to be shooting her first of many television appearances but this amateur was ruining it.
"No, no, just read the lines." He shook his head.
"Wait a minute," The owner of the mattress store looked at her curiously, "What did you have in mind?"
"Well, I did have something in mind if you would like to see it." Rachel said hopefully.
"Let see what you got kids." The owner rubbed his hands together. Rachel gathered everyone together as she ignored the glares she was receiving from the director. "Okay gang, I thought we could do a fresh twist on an old classic. After all, it is the older generation buying mattresses."
Rachel pulled out a CD that she had borrowed from her dad. Finn took it from her hands, "Cool, Van Halen."
"I am glad you agree Finn because I think that the vocals best suit your voice. Do you know the words to Jump?" Rachel asked.
"Of course." Finn nodded.
"Great. Now we just need to work out so choreography. Mike, Brittany, Santana, Quinn, do you think you could do some gymnastics?" Rachel struggled to say Quinn's name. Since Quinn had not shown up to the Glee photo, the blonde had been very quiet and contrite. She was giving Rachel space but that did not stop the occasional flower in her locker or note telling her she looked beautiful that day. Rachel wanted to stay angry with Quinn but the blonde was making it difficult. Rachel had to keep reminding herself that it would take more than a couple flowers to earn her trust again.
"We can definitely do that." Quinn went off with the others to work out some synchronized flipping. Rachel reorganized her thoughts and moved on.
"Mercedes, I think that you it would be best if you take the high note at the refrain up an octave. You know really pack a punch." Rachel pulled out sheet music and showed her.
"Diva, you know I got this." Mercedes flipped her hair. Rachel laughed.
"Artie, I made you up a sign." Rachel produced the sign from seemingly nowhere with the word 'JUMP' painted in blue on it. "I thought you could hold it up when the word was sang."
"Thanks Rachel." Artie said appreciating that she had made the effort to include him in the group. Rachel continued on to help Finn warm up his vocal chords.
Quinn planned the routine along with Santana. Mike and Brittany were goofing off flipping about on the mattresses. They had most of it figure out was the Latina sprung a question on her, "What is going on blondie?"
"What do you mean? After the double tuck we roll into the front flip. It is pretty simple." Quinn explained.
"No, I mean with you and the dwarf." Santana corrected her and ignored Quinn's glare.
"I don't know what you mean." Quinn glowered.
"Bull, Q." Santana snapped, "Last week you were looking at each other longingly and driving her home everyday after school and now you barely making eye contact."
Quinn rubbed her forehead, "I messed up S."
"No shit Sherlock." Santana snorted, "What happened?"
"I was supposed to be in the Glee photo with Rachel but…" Quinn glanced at the diva who was instructing Finn, "Right before I was supposed to meet Rachel, I- I got slushied."
"Jesus Quinn! Why didn't you say anything?" Santana's eyebrows shot up.
"You do not know how humiliating that was." Quinn shivered at the thought of it.
"Who was it?" the darker girl asked.
"Amber was the one that did it but Karen and Liz were there too." Quinn looked down embarrassed.
"Of course." Santana cursed, "Don't worry Q. We will take this. They will not know what hit them.
"Thank you San." Quinn touched her friend's shoulder gently.
"Hey, no one messes with the Unholy Trinity." Santana nudged her playfully.
"We are ready sir." Rachel said confident in their team's ability to perform. Thirty minutes later they had done a quick run through and were ready to go.
"Great. Let's start rolling." The director said unenthusiastically. New Directions took their places as he called, "Action."
"I get up! And nothing gets me done." Finn came in right on cue while the rest of the members sang back up along with the music. Rachel joined him to support his untrained voice on the higher notes. The Cheerios and Mike looked great flipping along to the beat. At a certain point they forgot they were performing and just had fun together singing and dancing together.
"Come on down The Mattress Factory!" They all said together, panting lightly for the excursion of constant jumping. The owner of the store broke out into applause, "That was fantastic!"
"Thank you." They chorused.
"You kids just thought of that on the spot? Man, you were incredible." He continued obviously pleased with the results.
"It was nothing." Rachel put on a shy act.
"It was great. But what about the important information?" The director reminded him.
"We can edit someone talking over it at the end." He waved off his brother as if it were not a big deal. "The little chatty one can do it."
Rachel read some lines in front of a green screen and their job was complete. Rachel went back to the dressing room to find her other teammates were already back in their regular clothes.
"That was really fun Rachel." Tina said as she exited to go find Artie.
"Yeah, way to go hobbit." Santana left with Brittany on her pinky finger.
"We nailed it diva." Mercedes patted her on the shoulder.
"Yeah, we did!" Rachel agreed. Everyone had filed out leaving Rachel to change by herself. She was almost ready to call her papa to pick her up when someone rejoined her in the dressing room.
"You were really great today." Quinn's distinctive voice cut through her thoughts.
"Thank you Quinn." Rachel avoided eye contact with the blonde. Rachel knew that if she looked into those hazel eyes she was done for, "It was really a team effort. Your choreography was fantastic."
"It is nothing I don't do for the Cheerios." Quinn shrugged, "You deserve most of the credit. Glee would be lost without your leadership."
"Well, we are lucky to have your expertise for Glee." Rachel said with as much professionalism that she could manage.
"I am happy to do what I can to help Glee." Quinn said.
"Does not seem like it." Rachel said sadly. A pained, guilty expression crossed her pretty face. Rachel immediately felt bad for saying it.
"I know I disappointed you." Quinn looked at her determinedly, "But I will to make it up to you."
"I want to believe you Quinn." Rachel sighed. She wanted Quinn to be the support she needed. She felt more for the blonde than she had ever felt for anybody, including Finn who she had a crush on since the first grade.
"I have not given you any reason to believe in me." Quinn stepped forward her eyes searching Rachel's, "I called you awful names and I let the jocks throw slushies in your face everyday, Rachel. I am trying to make it right but I have let you down again. I just, I want you to know that I am not going to stop trying."
Rachel felt warmth flush in her stomach as it filled with butterflies. She studied Quinn who was looking at her with a mixture of desperation and adoration. The blonde was not the cold, hard cheerleader that had terrorized her freshman year. Even her features seemed softer than Rachel remembered. The taller girl was close enough that Rachel could smell the sweet scent of vanilla and coconut coming off of her. Rachel wondered if it was her shampoo or perfume. Everything about Quinn lulled her, made her feel safe.
Rachel ignored her speech as she began to walk around the blonde, moving to the exit. In her peripheral vision she saw the cheerleader's shoulders slump in disappointment. The brunette's hand grazed Quinn's as she passed by and she paused. The gentle contact shot sparks across her skin. Rachel spoke softly, "I really hope you don't stop."
"I have some bad news gang." Mr. Schuester said dejectedly. Quinn sighed. She knew what was coming. Once again the Glee club was in trouble. "It is about the commercial you did."
"Did you see it Mr. Schue?" Finn asked excitedly.
"I saw it the other night after Sue's Corner. It looked so great." Mercedes chimed in.
"You guys looked lame. I looked awesome." Brittany deadpanned.
"We were all wearing the same thing…" Artie tried to remind her but back off when Santana glared at him.
"Guys listen." Mr. Schue began to get frustrated.
"What is wrong Mr. Schuester? Did you not like our performance?" Rachel asked perplexed.
"No, you all did great. In order to be eligible for competition we have to have amateur status." Mr. Schuester told them.
"We are only professional if we get paid for it." Kurt said keeping a level head. Everyone's eyes went to the stack of mattresses that they had received.
"We will just return the mattresses and explain…" Rachel trailed off, as Mr. Schuester shook his head no.
"I slept on a mattress." He admitted, "And you can't return a used mattress."
"Okay, we will return the others and no one will have to know." Santana said as though she did not see how this was a problem. As a Cheerio they were given perks all of the time that were far better than some cheap mattresses.
"It is too late." Will informed them sadly, "Sue knows and she has already told Figgins. There is only one way for you kids to go to Sectionals. I accepted the payment, so if I do not go you will be eligible to compete."
"But Mr. Schue, we can't do it without you." Finn whined.
"Sure you can." The choir director encouraged, "I did not do my job as a teacher if you can't. I mean look at what you did for the commercial. You did that without me and it was great."
"We will miss you Mr. Schuester." Rachel's big brown eyes watered slightly.
"I will miss you guys too." He said getting a misty nostalgic look, "But on the brighter side, guess who has an entire page in the Thunderclap!"
"What?" Everyone was surprised
"Yeah, by some miracle Coach Sylvester has given New Direction one of the Cheerios pages." Mr. Schue smiled at his students' excitement.
"That is some miracle." Rachel beamed knowingly at Quinn who was trying to conceal a small smile of her own. The head cheerleader thought about her abrupt conversation with her coach.
"Coach Sylvester we need to talk." Quinn stormed into the office. She had just found out that the abrasive woman was attacking the Glee Club again. She had over heard the conversation in the principal's office between the two warring teachers and their clueless boss and now she had to do damage control.
"What has your panties in a twist Q?" she took off of her glasses.
"You are going to give Glee Club a page in the yearbook." Quinn demanded.
"Ha, that chance is fatter than your Jewish girlfriend's ass." She scoffed.
Quinn pushed through the insult through gritted teeth, "You are going to give Glee Club one of the Cheerios six pages."
"And what makes you think that I will do that and not kick you off the squad?" She crossed her arms.
"Because if you don't. I am going to tell Principal Figgins about the Cheerios complementary tanning, spa visits, free clothing, etc." Quinn threatened, "It seems like if he knew about that it would seem like the Cheerios are getting paid and not eligible to compete for Nationals."
The older woman looked shocked for a moment before she ruefully shook her head, chuckling, "I forgot why you were my captain Q. You remind me so much of a young Sue Sylvester. My question is what happened? Why are you sticking up for the Cabbage Patch kids?"
"I guess I enjoy being in a group that actually makes me feel good about myself and like I belong for a change." Quinn bit back.
"Well that is awfully weak of you." Sue sneered.
"Not as weak as Amber's back flip," Quinn smirked, "Goodbye Coach."
The blonde had finally found the perfect opportunity to make it up to Rachel and the way diva was looking at her it seemed to be working. Mr. Schuester brought Quinn out of her thoughts, "So I want you kids to get all gussied up and take this picture."
Rachel lingered in the choir room while everyone else went to primp for the photo. She quietly went to Mr. Schuester's office where he sat at his desk, looking far less animated then he had been. "Mr. Schue?"
"Hey Rachel. What is up?" the Spanish teacher sounded on the verge of tears.
"Why did you use the mattress?" Rachel asked as she glanced at the used cushion on the floor next to him.
"I got into a fight with my wife." He told her reluctantly.
"About the baby?" Rachel looked down ashamed.
"Yes… Were you really going to give her your baby Rachel?" He sounded incredulous and hurt.
"It started out like that but then I told her I could not… I did not mean to hurt you Mr. Schuester." Rachel apologized.
"Rachel you are just a kid." He said, "You just were trying to do what was best for you and your baby."
"So we are okay?" Rachel asked gingerly.
"We are okay." He smiled kindly, "Don't worry about. Now go join your friends."
Rachel felt really bad for her favorite teacher. They did not always see eye to eye, especially about the number of solos that she received but she could not imagine how he was dealing with his marriage unraveling before him.
"Rach?" a familiar voice call to her, "You ready?"
She turned to Quinn, "I am."
"Good because I want to stand right next to you." Quinn blocked her path, searching Rachel for her response, to see if she had been forgiven. Rachel slipped her hand into Quinn's in a friendly gesture.
"I would not want to be anywhere else." Rachel pulled Quinn to join their teammates for their first photograph all together as a team.
The next week, the yearbooks came out. Rachel sat in the library by herself with the new book.
"What are you looking at Rachel?" Quinn came up behind her, letting her fingers play with silky locks.
"The Glee photo." She sighed.
"Don't look at that stuff Rach." Quinn tried to console her. "They people who deface our picture are ignorant."
"Including me?" Rachel smirked. She moved her shoulder out of the way so Quinn could see the page. It was not defaced yet except for the witch's hat on her head and broom in her hand. The diva held a guilty sharpie marker in her hand. The blonde looked surprised. Rachel shrugged, "If you cannot beat them, join them"
"I know you are not comparing me to a green outcast." Quinn laughed.
"You are prickly." Rachel giggled though she was impressed that she caught onto her Broadway reference. The brunette fell a little bit more for the cheerleader when she recognized her attempt to draw her as Elphaba from Wicked.
"Well, they don't come more bubbly than you." Quinn sat down next to Rachel and took her pen. Rachel watched as Quinn drew a crown on her head complete with a wand and full skirt. Rachel let out a full laugh.
"Perfect." Rachel said as Quinn finish putting little stars around her.
"Yeah, perfect." The cheerleader agreed but her eyes were only on Rachel.