Title: That Night

Summary: While out drinking with her friends one night, Quinn meets a younger girl named Rachel and ends up going home with her. She thinks that's the last she'll ever see of her, but life seems to have other plans.

Warnings: None for this chapter.

A/N: Hey guys! It's a busy day for me, so all I have to say is that I hope you enjoy this chapter!

After her much needed week-long holiday vacation, Quinn is back at the office, hard at work like she usually is. But it doesn't seem like she'll be getting much done today when she gets a buzz from Kitty.

"Ms. Lopez is here to see you."

Before she even has a chance to respond, Santana bursts into her office and shuts the door.

Quinn swivels in her chair to face her and clasps her hands together. "What is it?"

Santana crosses her arms. "So you brought Rachel home to meet the family? Are you crazy?"

"How do you even know about that?" Quinn frowns. She specifically didn't tell her best friend to avoid this exact scenario.

"Judy called to say Merry Christmas."

Quinn sighs. Of course she did. She calls Santana every year.

"And she brought up how you brought your little friend along. She couldn't stop talking about her."

"Is there a point to this? Because I'm kind of busy."

"The point is that you have a girl that's probably hung up on you, and you brought her home to meet your mom."

Quinn rolls her eyes. "She's my friend. So why is it so weird for her to meet my family? You know them. Puck knows them."

Santana scoffs, "This is not what 'friends' do and you know it."

"Well then, by all means, enlighten me. What do 'friends' do?" Quinn challenges.

"For starters, they don't show up at each other's work everyday."

"It's not everyday."

"Or hook up every night. Or get weirdly possessive." Off of Quinn's confused look, Santana says, "Kitty told me that Rachel glares at her every time she comes by. All because she flirted with you once."

Quinn throws her hands up and nearly shouts, "What do you want me to say? This isn't any of your business anyway."

"I already told you that there's something off about Rachel and this is all going to blow up in your face. And when it does, I'm just going to say I told you so."

Getting even more worked up, the blonde stands up from the chair. "Do I have to spell it out for you? We do not have those feelings for each other."

"That might be true for you. But we all know that's not the case for Rachel."

"Even if she does, that's not any of your business either. So just fucking stay out of this."

Santana sees how angry her friend is becoming and finally backs down, knowing she's crossed the line.

"Why do you care so much anyway?" Quinn asks. "Are you actually jealous that I have a friend that's around more than you are?"

Santana is the one to roll her eyes this time. "No."

Quinn smiles and decides to tease her. "Are you secretly in love with me? Don't get me wrong, I know you're into hot blondes and all, but you're like a sister to me."

"Yeah, you wish."

"Aww don't worry, Santana." Quinn walks around to the other side of her desk and nudges her. "No one is ever going to replace you as my best friend."

Santana laughs. "Shut up."

Quinn chuckles, glad that she's lightened the mood.

"Okay, I'm sorry for getting onto you about Rachel all the time. But I just want you to be careful. It was hard enough dealing with your depressed ass after Dani, and I don't want to see you like that ever again."

"I'm fine," Quinn assures her.

"I know trouble when I see it."

She wants to defend Rachel again, but she doesn't feel like arguing anymore. This was all giving her a massive headache.

"I have a conference call in a little while. So get out," she says playfully before sitting back down at her desk.

"Yeah, yeah. Are we still on for lunch?"

Quinn nods. "I'll see you at noon."

Once the first half of the day is finally over, Quinn walks with her best friend to a new sushi restaurant a few blocks away. It's considerably busy, given that it is the lunch rush. So Quinn is relieved when they get their food fairly quickly.

She's about to start eating when her phone goes off on the table.

Rachel: What are you doing?

She picks it up to send a reply.

Quinn: Just having lunch with Santana.

Rachel: Oh, that sounds nice.

Quinn puts the phone down and starts digging into her lunch, but pauses when another message comes through.

Rachel: I miss you...

She chokes and quickly sips her water. She looks up to see Santana giving her a weird look.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, sorry." Quinn looks back down at her phone, not sure how to even respond.

"Who's that?" Santana must notice the conflicted look on her face.

"No one. Just work stuff," Quinn says as she puts her phone away in her purse. She knows that telling her about the text will just set her off on another rant again.

Santana seems to accept the explanation and changes the subject. "Anyway, Brittany has a dance recital tonight. So you should actually come this time. Unless you already have other plans..."

"I don't," she says quickly. "And I'll go. I can pick you up if you want."

"Sounds good. She's going to be so excited to see you." Santana pauses before asking, "Are you going to bring Rachel?"

"Probably not. Why?"

Santana shrugs. "Just wondering." As they continue eating, she remembers something else that pissed her off today. She carefully starts, "Did you hear Dani's interview on the alternative station this morning?"

Quinn snaps her head up. "No? I didn't even know that was happening."

"She mentioned you."

"What?" Quinn feels her chest constricting.

"Well not by name. But it was pretty obvious to anyone that knows you were together."

"What did she say?" At her friend's hesitance to answer, she pushes, "Santana, I can handle it. What did she say?"

"They were asking her about the inspiration for her album and all that shit. And she was going on and on about how she had her heart broken by the 'love of her life'."

"That's not true," Quinn says.

"I know. It was a crock of shit. And then she was talking about how she hopes to find love again and how the whole album was basically written as a result of your break up."

"She started writing that stupid album way before we broke up."

"I know. What a bitch."

Quinn sighs. "She's probably just under pressure with all of the publicity she's getting and - "

"Are you seriously defending her?" Santana cuts in. "Don't. She's a bitch. End of story. And you deserve better."

She knows that Santana is right. Her best friend has always been one of the few people in her life that's always been so straight with her. Quinn thinks that maybe she should just listen to her for once.

"Don't worry about paying. Lunch is on me," Santana says as soon as the check comes.

"Thanks. I'll get it next time."

"You'd better."

Quinn laughs before frowning and rubbing her forehead.

"You okay?" Santana asks.

"I've had a headache all day. I'll probably leave work early."

"Good. You spend too much time there anyway."

She can't argue with that.

Quinn powers through as much work as she can and decides to call it a day around three o'clock. She closes everything on her computer and grabs her purse. She pulls her phone out for the first time since lunch to see several messages from Rachel.

Rachel: Quinn?

Rachel: I'm sorry. Was that weird?

Rachel: Quinn?

Rachel: Is everything okay?

Rachel: You're scaring me.

Rachel: Can you please answer me?

On top of that, there's even a few missed calls from the girl.

Quinn exhales and runs a hand through her hair, feeling uneasy after her conversation with Santana earlier.

She grabs her stuff and leaves the office. "I'm not feeling well. Can you forward all of my messages to my cell?" she tells Kitty.

"Sure thing," her assistant says.

Quinn nods and turns to leave, but sees her father approaching her. She immediately straightens up and smiles. "Hello Mr. Fabray."

"Is everything okay?" Russell asks with a frown.

"I'm not feeling good so I'm going home a little early."

"Did you at least get a lot of work done today?"

"Yes sir."

"Good."

When he nods and turns on his heel, Quinn continues on and walks to the elevator. She pushes the button and waits for the doors to open.

While she stands there, she takes her phone back out and starts replying back to Rachel that everything is fine. But as soon as the elevator doors open, she looks up and jumps when she sees Rachel standing right there.

"You scared me!" she gasps. "What are you doing here?"

Rachel seems out of breath. She steps closer to Quinn and says, "I've been trying to get ahold of you and you weren't answering me."

Quinn glances down the hallway to see Russell walking by. He stops to look at them curiously.

She quickly grabs Rachel and pulls her into the elevator, pushing the button to close the doors. "I was just about to send you a message. I've just been really busy today."

Rachel looks her up and down and says, "You're leaving work already?"

"I don't feel good."

"What's wrong?"

Quinn shrugs. "I just need to get some rest."

The elevator doors open at the ground floor and they step out together.

"You didn't need to come by," Quinn says as they walk outside.

"I was worried something may have happened to you because you weren't answering me."

"I have a life," Quinn snaps. "I don't spend all of my time talking to you."

Rachel looks like she's just been slapped and Quinn instantly feels guilty when she sees the hurt flash across her face.

She stops walking and sighs. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Rachel answers quietly.

"No. That was mean and out of line. I'm really sorry. I've just been so stressed out lately."

"I understand."

"I'll drive you home. Okay?"

"No thank you, Quinn."

When Rachel turns to walk away, Quinn stops her by grabbing her wrist. "Please let me drive you home."

"You're not feeling well and you need to get some rest like you said. I can take myself home." She pulls away from Quinn and leaves.

Quinn stares after her, wondering what the hell just happened.

After Brittany's recital later that night, Quinn joins the dance student with Santana for dinner at one of the nicer midtown restaurants. Brittany did a great job in the recital as far as Quinn could tell. She doesn't know much about professional dancing, but she was still impressed with the whole performance.

"You did amazing tonight," Quinn tells her from across the table.

"Thank you!" Brittany squeals. "I'm so happy you got to come this time!"

"Yeah, it's about time," Santana chimes in. Brittany huffs at her girlfriend.

"I know," Quinn sighs. "So, how long have you been dancing?"

"Since I was like," Brittany pauses to think about it, "maybe three? My parents wanted to expose me to all these different things so I could find my calling. So they signed me up for things like dance class, swim class, karate class, piano lessons, banjo lessons..."

Brittany continues on and on, but Quinn can't help it when her mind starts drifting to other things. Namely Rachel.

She feels bad for talking to her the way that she did. Rachel showing up unannounced was a littler over the top, but Quinn knows she probably could have handled it better. She wonders if things are going to be weird between them now. Or if Rachel will even talk to her ever again.

"You know, Quinn," Brittany interrupts her thoughts, "I have some friends that would probably be totally into you if you're interested in getting set up?"

"Like to date?" Quinn frowns.

"Yeah. Or, you know, other things."

She looks at Santana only to see her smirking. Quinn knows right away that her best friend put Brittany up to this. "That's really nice of you, Brittany. But I'm going to have to say no." She glares at Santana. "I'm not looking to meet new people right now."

"Oh! That's okay. But let me know if you ever change your mind."

When Brittany turns to Santana to have their own conversation, Quinn uses the opportunity to pull out her phone to send a message to Rachel. Of what, she doesn't know yet.

But as soon as she looks at the screen, she sees that there's already a message from the girl.

Rachel: I'm sorry for my behavior today. I hope that you'll forgive me.

Quinn reads it over a few times before typing out her reply.

Quinn: I'm sorry for being a rude. It's been a bad day. Like I said, I've just been stressed.

Rachel: I know. And I'm sorry.

Another message comes in.

Rachel: Can I come over?

She wasn't expecting that. She looks up to see Santana eyeing her on her phone and thinks back to their earlier conversation. She's giving Rachel mixed signals and she needs to back off.

Quinn: I'm busy tonight.

Rachel: Are we okay?

Quinn: Of course.

"Are you going to Puck's party tomorrow?" Santana asks.

"Party?" Quinn frowns before it comes back to her. "His New Years party!"

"Did you seriously forget about it?"

"Shut up," Quinn says. "And yes, I'll be there."

"Good. Any chance you can get us all off the hook at work the next day?"

Quinn chuckles. "There's no way in hell Russell will allow that."

"Just thought I'd ask. I hate going to the office with a hangover."

"Then just don't get drunk," Brittany says.

Santana rolls her eyes. "Babe, it's New Years. I can't not get drunk."

Quinn watches them, amused. She then sighs to herself. How could she have forgotten about New Years? Her head has been such a mess lately.

There seems to be a lot more people at Puck's party compared to last year. The rooftop to his apartment building was almost completely crammed, filled mostly with faces Quinn has never seen before. But these things never surprise her when it comes to Puck.

They only agree to do the party at his place every year because his rooftop has the perfect view to watch the ball drop on Time's Square. It was always fun. However, this was Quinn's first New Years spent single in a long time.

She shivers as she tucks her hands into her coat pockets, weaving through everyone as she tries to find at least one of her friends. She manages to bump into Mike and Tina.

"Hey, have you guys seen Santana or Puck?" she asks.

Mike nods and points to the table with all of the alcohol. She looks over to see Puck pouring two different bottles of liquor into a bowl of punch. She shakes her head and walks over to him.

"Quinn! You made it!" He smiles at her as he puts the empty bottles down.

"Hey Quinn," Finn appears next to them.

"Did you find someone yet?" Puck asks him.

Quinn frowns. "Find someone for what?"

"Finn has to find someone to kiss at midnight or I get to punch him in the nuts."

"Real mature." Quinn rolls her eyes.

"Or I give him a hundred bucks," Finn says.

"Which you don't have." Puck hands them both a cup full of his spiked punch. He turns to Quinn and says, "What about you, Q? You making out with anybody tonight?"

"I don't plan on it."

"Seriously? You didn't bring that girl you've been seeing?" He snaps his fingers, trying to remember. "The hot Jewish one?"

"Rachel. And we're not dating." She takes a sip of the punch and grimaces. "What the hell did you put in here?"

"The usual. Vodka, rum, tequila, ecstasy, roofies." When she looks ready to strangle him, he quickly says, "Kidding!"

"There you guys are." Santana shoves different people out of the way with Brittany in tow to join them. "We've been looking around forever."

"Are you sure you weren't just making out downstairs?" Quinn smirks. "You should probably do something about that hickey."

Santana slaps a hand on her neck in mild horror while Brittany shrugs and takes a cup full of Puck's special punch. "Let's party!" Everyone cheers with her.

"You think the cops will come if we're loud enough?" Puck asks excitedly.

"Jesus, I am back in college," Quinn mumbles to herself.

"Here's to the new year!" Puck exclaims.

Everyone raising their cups in unison is the last clear memory Quinn has for the night.

"Dammit." Quinn bumps into another stranger and drops her drink. She attempts to give him her best glare, which may not be that effective since she can't even feel her face right now.

"Dude, Quinn is wasted," she hears a male voice laugh as an arm slings around her shoulders to hold her steady.

"Aww, I love drunk Quinn!"

"How much has she had, Puckerman?"

"She had a lot of the punch. Then I told her she was too weak to do a line of shots. She got mad and did them anyway."

"Why would you dare her!" The voice sounds like Santana.

She pulls her head up and sees a blurry version of her best friend yelling at Puck while Finn holds her up.

"I don't feel good," she forces the words out.

"You gotta hurl, Q? You can do it over the ledge. Just make sure there's no one underneath you."

She shakes her head. "I wanna lie down."

"You can chill on my couch for a while," Puck offers. "There's no one down there anyway."

"She's going to miss the ball drop," Brittany pouts.

"I'll be here," Quinn hiccups, "in spirit!" When Santana snickers, she glowers at her.

She turns to go to the edge of the building where the fire escape is so she can go back down.

"Let us help you," Puck says as him and Finn hurry after her. "Don't want you to break your neck."

She huffs and jerks away from them. "I can do it myself."

"Okay, Quinn. We're just going to wait here until you get down."

She gets on the ladder and starts climbing down. Luckily, Puck's apartment is only one floor down. And she manages to make it all the way without slipping or hurting herself. She then climbs inside the window and makes a beeline for the couch, falling face first onto it.

Sometime later, Quinn wakes, not really sure how long she's out for. She lifts her head when she hears shouting coming from above her.

"Five! Four! Three! Two! One!"

When the cheers start erupting, she groans to herself. Everyone is ringing in the new year with joy and here she was. She can only imagine how pathetic she looks right now.

Several minutes pass and it still sounds like complete chaos outside. Quinn rolls onto her back and rubs her eyes, thinking about maybe going home soon.

Her phone suddenly starts ringing. She blindly reaches into her coat pocket to grab it and answers without even bothering to look at the screen.

"Hello?" she croaks out.

"Happy new year, Quinn."

She sits up, cringing when her head starts spinning. "Hi Rachel."

"Are you okay? You don't sound too good."

"I had a lot to drink," she mumbles.

"I can tell. You're slurring," she hears Rachel giggle.

"You didn't go out?"

"I did. I went to Kurt's party. But it was too noisy in there, so I stepped outside to call you."

"Oh." Quinn lies back down.

"Did you have fun tonight?"

"I don't know. I guess so." She rubs her forehead, knowing she's going to regret drinking so much. "What about you?"

"I'm enjoying myself for the most part."

"For the most part?"

"I just..." Rachel pauses.

"What?"

"I wish that I could've kissed you at midnight."

"Rachel," Quinn sighs, "you can't say things like that."

"I know. But I can't help it. Not when it comes to you."

Quinn stays silent, not knowing what to say. She sits back up and stretches, ready to leave.

"I'm going home now. So I'll talk to you later."

"You're in no position to be driving."

"I'm getting a cab."

"Good."

Quinn carefully stands and makes sure she has all of her things. "Bye Rachel."

Before she hangs up, she hears Rachel quickly rush out, "Can we hang out soon? I want to see you."

"Yeah, we can. We'll talk about it later. I just need to get home right now."

"Okay. Goodnight Quinn."

"Goodnight."

A/N: This officially marks the halfway point in the story. Let me know what you think!