Author's Note:

I know I said the last chapter was the shortest and it is... but the next few aren't much longer. Sorry

Rachel POV, the first appearance of Kurt and Mercedes (god help us all. I never expected I'd be writing them when I started this, heck I never expected to make it past single digits (10 chapters? can you believe it?) yet here we are.) So anyone more familiar with these two, please give me whatever tips/advice/feedback you can as it looks like they'll be sticking around for at least a few more chapters.) No Quinn this time (for a Faberry story, those two seems to have a lot of chapters apart don't they?)

Some more inner voice in this chapter. If you're wondering why some thoughts get plain text and some get all fancy inner voice text the reason is simple. Plain text is either a paraphrase of the character's thought (like "she really wished she knew what was going on" instead of "I really wished I knew what was going on" or is a thought that the character is 100% aware of having. Inner voice text on the other hand is the exact thought going through their head that they may or may not be consciously aware of (50/50 chance of the latter).

Don't own any of them. Not Rachel. Not Quinn. Not Santana or Brittany or Kurt or Mercedes nor any of the rest of them. (No I'm not bitter... okay maybe a little bit but can you blame me?). Other people own them, I'm only borrowing them (without permission true, but it's still counts as borrowing)

Enjoy :D

"So," started the teen who had just dropped into the seat opposite Rachel "Are you going to tell us what's going on or do we need to drag it out of you of?"

"Kurt," the brunette acknowledged before glancing to her right at the other familiar face that had taken up residence at her usually empty lunch table, "Mercedes. I'm not entirely sure I know what you're talking about."

"Oh please Berry." The rubenesque singer said, rolling her eyes as she spoke. "What's going on with you and Quinn?"

Kurt's left eyebrow arched as he saw the pint-sized diva's throat flex in a hard swallow.

"Nothing. There's nothing going on between Quinn and I. Santana simply misinterpret-"

"Santana?" Her inquisitors both cut in with such perfect harmony that Rachel wondered how long they'd practiced."

"And just what did Santana misinterpret?" Kurt asked, folded hands resting on the table's top as he leaned in.

Rachel leaned back. They hadn't known about Santana's little flight of fancy. She really did need to learn to just stop talking.

"Nothing." So much for that

"Rachel, your lying. Your a terrible liar. We know it, you know it and now we know that there's something your lying about so just tell us what it is and we'll let you finish your lunch in peace"

"Yeah Berry, spill and we promise to let you be."

Why is everyone holding me hostage today?

"What Santana thought is irrelevant."Rachel rallied, "She was wrong, repeating her error only prolongs the mistake."

Mercedes' lips parted but whatever she was going to say was put on hold as Kurt held up his left hand.

"Fine. But that brings us back to our original question. What's going on with you and Fabray?"

"I already told you there is nothing going on between Quinn and I"

The prying teens exchanged a glance. That was twice now that Rachel had turned a with into a between

"Then why did she try to audition for the McKinley football team this morning in order to catch up with you? Why did she follow you half way across the school, in the opposite direction from her own class no less, just to talk to you?"

Oh. That.

She'd been wondering about that herself all morning. Yes Quinn had been very clear what she wanted to talk about, an end to surprise third party slushie facials, but she still wasn't entirely sure what had spurred Quinn into starting this particular quest.

Then again, she hadn't been sure of much since the day she'd visited the blonde girl.

Rachel realized she was taking too long to form a reply and picked up her fork to spear the garden salad (no dressing) in front of her then stuffed the greens into her mouth.

She wanted to ask me about song selection?

No, they'd never believe that which is sad really as I'm easily the most knowledgeable member of the team when it comes to that sort of thi-

Focus Rachel

She wanted to mock my wardrobe selection? A little more in character, yet another sad fact, but there wasn't anything particularly remarkable about her sartorial choice today that would explain Quinn's urgency in catching up or going so far out of her way...

So very far

She was worried about me. The truth. Unadorned. Simple. And explained everything... but given her and Quinn's past till recently, as unbelievable as Quinn coming to her for advice not to mention opening the door for even further inquiry at the hands of the two watching her chew.

Going to have to swallow soon, Think faster or pick one.

"Sip?" Kurt offered, a calculated smile spread across his lips as he reached for Rachel's bottle of water.

Poop!

"Mm... Thank you Kurt." Rachel's hand was blocked as she tried to fill her fork once more.

"Slow down Berry, wouldn't want you to choke now would we?"

"No. Of course not. Thank you Mercedes."

Double poop!

"Rachel?"

"I- She-" C'mon Berry. Tell them something. Anything! "We... She wanted to make sure I kept Santana's mistake to myself. Something about not getting "Berry stains" all over her cheerios."

Please god, please let them believe me. Just this once let me lie and get away with it.

"Really?" Kurt asked, his tone leaving no doubt that he believed Rachel about as much as he believed he'd meet the girl of his dream, start a family and find a nice blue collar job.

Gee, thanks a lot god.

"Why would I lie about that?"

"Yes. Why would you?"

"I- I wouldn't."

"Well you did a crap job of keeping it to yourself Berry." Mercedes pointed out as she slipped back into the conversation.

"Yes I did and I would very much appreciate it if you, both of you, wouldn't mention that to Quinn. I'd rather not spend the entirety of Glee club listening to her rant about it. Now if you'll both excuse me, I have to prepare for my next class."

Rachel gathered her tray and, forcing herself to take slow, measured steps and not the frenetic escape she would have prefered, walked away.

"She's lying."

"Oh so totally lying. The question is about what. And why?"

"Santana?"

"No, though she clearly has some part in all this. We'd never be able to crack her though so she's not going to be any help."

"Quinn?"

"Maybe... but we'd have to get her alone and even then it would be tricky. No we need someone close to Quinn but easy to manipulate..."

...

"Brittany!" the duo exclaimed in another display of pitch perfect synchronicity.