AN: This one is dedicated to Lilmeister for leaving me such a long and wonderful review! Thank you so much. But really guys, I love the reviews. It helps guide me a bit. This is a bridge chapter. Sorry it isn't as long as I'd hoped, but we've got a ways to go. It's been a little heavy lately, should lighten up for a bit soon. Enjoy!

"WHAT THE HELL, DUDE!" The group heard from the hallway. Everyone was sitting in the choir room waiting for practice to start. It was duet day and everyone was sitting with his or her respective partner. Upon hearing the shouting, Mr. Schuester quickly ran out the room into the hallway, with the rest of the club following suit.

"What is your damage, Finn?" Sam squared himself up in front of Finn.

"YOU KNOW WHAT MY DAMAGE IS!" He yelled as he shoved Sam into a locker.

"Back off, dude." Sam said as he shoved him back, just in time for Mr. Schuester to step in between the two boys, holding Sam back from lunging at Finn.

"What is going on out here?" The teacher looked between the two boys.

"My good buddy Sam here asked my girl out on a date," the brown haired boy explained.

"Excuse me!" All three men's head flipped to the doorway where Quinn was standing with the rest of the glee club.

"Exactly! I am not your property, Finn, besides we aren't even together anymore," Rachel said as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Yeah, she isn't yours, and she said yes." Sam spat the words out at the other boy with a smile on his face. Quinn looked down at the floor, unable to look anywhere else.

"Okay, okay, let's all calm down and get back in," Mr. Schuester began to wave everyone in. Quinn stood firm where she was in the hallway as the rest of the glee clubbers, minus Rachel, filed back in. As soon as Mr. Schuester started to walk away Finn lunged at Sam, pushing him into the lockers.

With one cracking punch to the jaw Sam had Finn on the ground. Mr. Schuester rushed back over and held the boy back.

"You guys stop this now!"

"Mr. Schue, he came at me again!" Sam exclaimed as he shook his hand off. Rachel rushed over and pulled at the blonde boy's arm, pulling him away from the other two men.

"Samuel, violence is never the answer. Let me see your hand," she examined the swollen hand, "doesn't look broken." He winced as she poked and prodded the hand. "I think you'll be okay, do you want ice?"

"I'll be okay, Rachel," he smiled.

"That was very stupid of you," she dropped his hand.

"I know, I'm sorry. I just don't appreciate people shoving me into lockers, and he did that twice. What was I supposed to do?" He asked.

"Walk away when Mr. Schue told you to!" She stomped her foot.

"Look, I'm sorry." He felt like he was saying this a lot, "I didn't appreciate him talking about you like you were an object." He placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you, Samuel. Your chivalry is greatly appreciated. Now let's get into the choir room so we can begin warming up." She stood on her tiptoes, pulled his shoulder down a bit, and kissed him on the cheek. They exchanged smiles and then both turned to go back to the choir room.

Rachel's eyes met Quinn's instantly and could see the pain and discomfort in them. As soon as Rachel opened her mouth to say anything to her Quinn quickly went and sat down in the room. Sam gave her a sad smile and invited her to sit with him in class. She politely declined and took her seat next to Quinn.

Quinn didn't speak a word beyond okay and yeah for the rest of the practice to Rachel.

There was no phone call that night, and Rachel refused to be the one to call the blonde. Her behavior was completely ridiculous in the eyes of the diva, but Quinn disagreed. The blonde had spent her night tossing and turning, her head full of every touch, smile, and word she had seen and heard in the hallway earlier in the day.

"How could I be so stupid?" Quinn said to her dog, who was lying on her bed the next morning as she got ready. "All the hugs and the cute talk, I should have seen it. Of course he'd like her, she's beautiful, and talented. It's so unfair though." She stomped her foot while tightening her ponytail in the mirror. "Don't you think, Nomar?" She looked at her dog that just laid still. "You're no help!" She smiled and pet his head. "Catch you later, big man." She sprinted down the stairs, grabbed her keys and bag, and ran out the door. Once in the car she reached over and began to play her iPod on shuffle.

Her car ride was spent in a pensive stare at the street ahead of her. She didn't realize the swiftly approaching headache until she put her car in park at the school. She wasn't sure she could stomach a day of watching Sam walk Rachel to class, or him letting her wear his letterman jacket. She grabbed her backpack and rushed from her car to the school. The sooner the day began the sooner it would end as well.

She wanted to avoid Rachel and Sam. That was her main thought when searching through her locker for various items. Quinn knew her main defense mechanism was to get mean and she'd done enough of that. She was trying to be a new person, and to treat Rachel better. When she heard footsteps behind her she knew she hadn't successfully flown under the radar.

"We really should stop meeting like this, Rachel," she said without turning to see who was hovering behind her.

"Quinn," Rachel said softly placing a hand on the blonde's shoulder.

She slowly turned and pulled the hand off of her shoulder. "Yes ma'am?"

"You didn't call…" Rachel looked at the ground.

"Neither did you," Quinn sighed turning away to close her locker.

"I wasn't sure you'd want to talk to me," she explained.

"And why is that?" the blonde leaned against her locker and crossed her arms.

"Well, after you heard what Finn said…"

"You mean how I found out that you were going on a date with my ex boyfriend, and I found out about it from Finn?" She said with a matter of fact tone.

"It's not a date—"

"Just save it, Rach," she pushed off the lockers. "You're a big girl, you can do what you want." She brushed passed the brunette.

"Quinn," Rachel grabbed her arm.

"Seriously, it just hurt hearing it from Finn. You'd think Sam or you would have told me," she shrugged off her hand.

"You're upset," Rachel pointed out.

"I was," she shook her head with a smirk, "and now I'm over it."

Rachel could only sigh as she saw Quinn walk away, her hips swaying left to right.

Mr. Schuester could feel his headache forming. "Both of you, I've told you that I'm not changing the assignment," he put his hands up as if to hold them back, "you will have to work through your issues with your partner."

"But Mr. Schue he punched me in the face!" Finn complained.

"Yes, I realize this, and he has been talked to," he closed the notebook he was writing in on his desk. "This discussion is over."

The young man scoffed and stormed out. After he was well out of earshot the girl began to talk.

"Mr. Schuester, I know I told you I thought this was a great idea," she began.

"I do believe this was your idea to begin with," he stated.

"Okay, you're right, it was. I thought I could get through to her. Everyone deserves a second chance and all of that, but" she paused, "it just hurts too much."

The teacher sighed and stood up, pushing his seat in. "I understand how hard this is for you, and I truly applaud your effort." He placed a hand on her shoulder, "getting slushied and being insulted can't be fun." She looked up at him and nodded, tears filling her eyes. "But your aspirations on this one are noble, and they are well placed. I believe that you can really make a difference here." He patted her shoulder and began to walk past her, pausing at the door, "she'll come around. I think she needs you just as much as you need her," and then he exited the classroom.

She gently wiped the tears from her eyes and sighed loudly. As she exited the classroom she jumped at the voice of someone else.

"So, did he change his mind?" It was Finn.

"Jesus, Finn, must you always troll around corners like that?" she asked.

"I just came back to get my bag, I left it in his room, and I saw that you stayed longer…" He walked into the room and grabbed his bag. "So, did you get him to budge?"

"I'm not sure why you are talking to me right now, to be honest."

"I know I was out of line before, but we both want this duet assignment to end. You are miserable with her!" He wore a smug smile.

"I am not miserable with her, it's simply more complicated than that," she sighed.

"Whatever, tell yourself what you want to hear," he began to walk away, "I know it's some game to you."

"What is your deal, Finn?" She started towards him, "I'm so sick of you passing judgment on me!"

"And you don't think I deserve it?" He turned around and hovered over her. "I know you, we did date after all."

"I'll make this pretty clear," she poked him in the chest, "you don't know a damn thing about me. Now stay out of my way, I mean it." She pushed him and walked away.

"Walk away, Quinn Fabray, it's what you do best." He shouted down the hall to her. She cleared her throat and continued to trek away. The tears were starting to gain momentum as they trailed down her face. As they got faster and larger she broke out into a sprint. Nothing had been going according to plan; this isn't where she wanted to be in life. She ran as quickly as she could, pushing it all behind her and where she ended up was the auditorium.

Quinn heard the door slam behind her as she walked towards the piano. She sat at the bench, lifted the keys cover, and began to lightly press various keys. Her hormones were easy to blame when she was pregnant, every time her tears escaped her that was the excuse she used. But this was pure heartbreak. She sobbed, hunched over protectively holding her stomach, as though she was still cradling the child she had to give up months ago. She finally calmed herself down and began to lightly play the piano again. Quinn cleared her throat and began to sing, though it sounded croaked and strained. The sound filled up the quiet auditorium in a haunting way.

You are my sweetest downfall / I loved you first, I loved you first / Beneath the sheets of paper lies my truth / I have to go, I have to go / Your hair was long when we first met

While she progressed through the song she became more and more immersed in it, so much so that she didn't hear the quiet click of the door closing. Her voice had now worked through its tear stained sound and was now full and commanding.

You are my sweetest downfall / I loved you first, I loved you first / Beneath the stars came fallin' on our heads / But they're just old light, they're just old light / Your hair was long when we first met

Quinn continued to play as new tears formed in her eyes. She shook her head and spare strands of golden locks fell from her ponytail, which had now become very loose. They framed her face as she sung out the final words to the song.

Oh, we couldn't bring the columns down / Yeah we couldn't destroy a single one / And history books forgot about us /And the bible didn't mention us, not even once / You are my sweetest downfall / I loved you first

Her fingers ceased movement and she sighed as she lifted her foot of the sustain pedal. She stared at the black and ivory underneath her fingertips. The only solace that she'd found over the summer was between the white and black. That had been what she was taught her entire life anyway, there was no room for gray. There was black, and there was white. Life didn't have round edges in her family. Her tears began to multiply as she thought of how much of a disappointment she was to everything she had learned as a child. The feelings that she was currently suppressing were definitely gray area.

Quinn Fabray was in love.

"Quinn," a whisper echoed as if it'd been shouted through the quiet auditorium.

"Go away, please, Rachel," the voice she had heard was undeniable.

"That was beautiful," she took a step closer to the blonde.

"Please, Rachel, just leave me be," Quinn was on the verge of another full on sob at this point, her head throbbing. "Please!"

"Are you crying, Quinn?" She was now standing directly behind the blonde on the piano bench.

"Do you ever just listen?" the cheerleader refused to look up so Rachel could see her vulnerability.

"Not when I think you need me," the diva placed a hand on her back, which Quinn immediately shook off.

"Well, I'm sure Sam needs you more," she sniffled.

"So that is what's bugging you."

"Actually no, everything isn't about you and the blonde male Barbie."

"You don't have to be mean with me, you know," Rachel lowered her self to kneeling next to the piano bench. "Just talk to me."

Quinn buried her face on the piano and began shaking with sobs. All the other girl could hear was incoherent mumbling from the crying girl. Rachel began to rub her back softly. When she finally got calmed down she glanced over to Rachel to see a small sad smile placed on her lips.

"There you are," Rachel whispered as she wiped some tears off of the other girl's face with her thumb.

"Here I am," she spoke quietly, hiding her face on the piano again.

"No, no," the brunette placed her hand on top of the sad girl's. "None of that hiding, please?" Quinn turned her attention back to the girl, "thank you."

"Can you go, please?" She asked quietly.

"Why are you pushing me away so hard?"

"I've been down this path before. I know this feeling, like I need you. Duets don't work for me. And I don't need you." Quinn stood up.

"No, stop!" Rachel commanded while pulling the blonde back down onto the bench. "I'm not letting you run away," she put her hands around both of Quinn's hands, "we are going to sort through this."

"Sort through what?" She shouted.

"Whatever makes you push me away, and makes you run away!"

"WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP SAYING THAT TO ME! I DON'T RUN! I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO STAYS!" Quinn got up from the bench, jerking her hands away. This startled Rachel.

"Please calm down, Qui—" she was cut off. Quinn sprinted almost nearly to the door, before turning and pointing aggressively at Rachel.

"No, I'm sick of this! I'm sick of everyone getting to pass his or her judgments on me. I have messed up, but no one knows what it is like. You go through what I went through, okay? I'm not one to play the victim but I'm sick of this."

"You're right, I don't know what it was like. You could help me understand though," Rachel stood up and started to take strides towards the blonde. This immediately resulted in Quinn throwing her hands up in defense.

"No," she shook her head. "NO!" She began to shake her head back and forth. "I don't want your help, I don't want to do this. I don't want to, I can't get hurt again, and I don't want to hurt you. Or Sam."

"Sam? What does he have to do with this?"

"He likes you, Rach. It's clear, it's all over his puppy dog face." She laughed bitterly, "The golden retriever has found his new master."

"Hey!" Rachel crossed her arms. "Don't do this, please. Can you just listen to me?" She shot Quinn a pleading look and took a step towards her just so she could take a step back.

"No, I can't," she closed her eyes tightly, "because I've heard the speech a hundred times!"

"Have you?" Quinn nodded in response to Rachel's question. "Okay, stop me when you feel like you've heard it, deal?" Quinn stood still and expressionless. "In the second grade I told my dads that I wanted to be your friend because you were the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen." She took a step forward, the blonde stood still. "In the sixth grade you invited me to your birthday party but I didn't go because I was too nervous." She took another step. "In the eighth grade you signed my yearbook, 'Don't listen to what everyone else says, you're going to be a huge super star. I'm calling it now. Thanks for being the only star I ever see during the day, especially inside. It makes the days bearable. See you around, Rachel.' And I read it every day until the second week of freshman year. Do you know why?" Quinn shook her head. "Because it was the first day you called me Man Hands." Quinn looked to the ground, Rachel took a step forward, and she took one backwards. "It was also the first day you ever wore a cheerios uniform," she paused, "I thought you looked lovely." Rachel advanced a step. "I resented you so much for how you treated me all freshman year. Then last year you joined Glee, and the pregnancy happened." She took another step. "Everything came out, and I was horrible to you."

"You were not," Quinn said with her eyes still trained on the floor.

"I was though. I offered you friendship, but you needed something more. You were scared, and you needed someone not just anyone." She took another step, now standing in front of the blonde. "Quinn Fabray, I think I could be that someone." Rachel placed her hands on the cheerleader's hips. "Will you let me be that someone?" The brunette now had tears in her eyes matching the ones the blonde was sporting.

"I, I—" Quinn was having trouble finding words, so instead she wrapped her arms the brunette tightly.

Rachel giggled, "is that a yes?"

"It's a maybe," the blonde sighed into her shoulder.