Rachel could feel Quinn's palm become clammy as they approached the side doors of McKinley High, hand in hand. "We don't have to do this," Rachel said for the fifth time, dropping her hand to her side that was holding open a play that she had been reading since she woke up, "No one has seen us yet."
"No. I want to," Quinn replied, her eyes on the door to the school. She didn't know, but her eyes got wider as they got closer to the door until finally she looked like she was staring down a ghost.
"Quinn," Rachel's sharp voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
Blonde hair flared out as her head snapped into Rachel's direction. Rachel stared hard at Quinn, trying to get her to understand, "If you're scared we can-"
"No," Quinn cut her off, "We're going to do this." The Cheerio grabbed the handle of the door and threw it open, allowing Rachel to walk in, in front of her. Rachel smiled at this, resisting the urge to kiss Quinn for such a chivalrous display.
The looks started the second Quinn took Rachel's hand again, sliding her fingers through the brunette's. Quinn knew that the word would travel faster down the hallways than they could so there was no stopping it now.
Rachel had her nose buried in a script again. She was so entranced in the words that she didn't notice all the whispers and the looks, not that she wasn't already used to them. Rachel continued to blindly let Quinn guide her through the hallways, and took her hand out of Quinn's only to turn the page of her play.
When they stopped at Quinn's locker, Rachel dropped the play to her side, "This is an amazing play. I have got to find a theatre director to put this on."
Quinn opened her locker and shuffled some books around, hoping that Rachel didn't notice that her hands were now shaking. Luckily the play she had bough Rachel was serving as a perfect distraction.
"You'd be the perfect lead," Rachel mentioned resting her head against the open door of Quinn's locker.
The blonde looked questioningly at Rachel, "I don't act."
Rachel let out a small smile, "Then what have you been doing the past two years?"
Quinn glanced at Rachel, knowing that Rachel was right, "I don't act on stage."
"You should," Rachel offered holding the play up, "This would be perfect for you. The coming of age story of a perfectionist writer in New York who is struggling to find herself while finding that her story had come to life. It's sad, it's funny, it's heavy…it's so you."
"I'm not heavy," Quinn bit back a smirk.
Rachel closed the play and slid it into her shoulder bag, "I meant emotionally heavy."
"I know," the blonde let the smirk out and closed her locker. She started walking down the hallway with Rachel next to her. She immediately took Rachel's hand, blocking out the gawking that was taking place all around them.
"Well, well, well," Santana clucked as she walked up, "Look who was finally shoved out of the closet."
Quinn sneered, "It's nice out here. You should join us."
Santana snorted, "Are you for real?"
The blonde slammed her locker shut, "Yeah cause I know it hurts watching that." Quinn pointed to Brittany who was patiently watching a football player flirt with her.
If she hadn't been looking for it, Quinn wouldn't have seen Santana flinch when she saw them.
"It feels like the seconds before a drunken prayer to the porcelain god," Quinn paused, lurking behind Santana, "Then you swallow it, thinking that it'll all go away." The blonde shook her head. She placed a hand on Santana's shoulder, "but it follows you the rest of the day and into the night until you see her and she smiles at you...that special smile that you know is just for you."
Santana shook her head trying to shake the eerie feeling of Quinn describing exactly how she felt at that moment. She didn't even look at Quinn before stalking off. Brittany saw it and trotted off after her, leaving the football player mid-sentence.
Quinn sighed. Even the weird looks didn't overshadow the pain of seeing Rachel with Finn. She was ecstatic that the monstrosity of the boy knew that R was now hers.
A hand appeared in hers, pulling her out of her thoughts. Rachel was walking by her and just grabbed her hand, dragging her along.
"If you keep checking out Santana then you're going to be late to class," Rachel teased.
"I wasn't checking her out," Quinn stated, "I was merely point out that Brittany was flirting with some guy."
"Quinn, that's mean," Rachel scolded with a decided frown, "Why do you two hate each other?"
"I don't hate her...we're more frienemies. I was just trying to get her to commit to Brittany."
"I don't think anyone could be more committed."
"How do you figure?" Quinn asked, "Santana sleeps around, even with Brittany."
"Why does she do that?" Rachel asked in the way she did when she was taking her time getting to her point.
"Brittany told me it had something to do with lizards. I dunno." The Cheerio shrugged.
"I know for a fact that Brittany hasn't slept around as much as everyone thinks. Sure she's kissed most people in the school, but...guys think Santana is sexy and she's feared. How easy would it be for Brittany to tumble down the social ladder if Santana didn't hold her pinkie on the top?" Rachel stood on her toes and kissed Quinn's cheek, "Have a good class."
Suddenly, the whirlwind that was Rachel disappeared down the hallway and Quinn found herself abandoned in front of her class.
"C'mon Quinn," Brittany grinned walking past her and grabbing her arm, "We're gonna be late."
Quinn settled in the back of the classroom thinking. She dwelled on what Rachel had said. She wondered if she could convince Santana that it was worth the momentary sink in social status. She and Rachel walked in this morning, hand in hand and for the first few periods of the day people looked at them funny, but now no one really noticed. That was the thing about high school. Scandals burn hot and usually only for a couple hours. Quinn didn't notice anyone treat her differently. Mostly because she only really interacted with the glee kids and she hadn't seen any of them, except for Santana and Brittany, yet. And that smug smirk she threw at Finn when he gawked at them.
"What's up Q?" Brittany slid her chair closer to Quinn and rested her chin on Quinn's shoulder, looking at her paper. She missed how affectionate Brittany was when Santana wasn't around. Speaking of, "Where's S?"
"She's on the treadmill," Brittany sighed. She picked up what Quinn had been drawing. "Why did you write my name?"
"I was thinking about you," Quinn let out a smile. Only Brittany wouldn't take someone writing their name in bubble letters the wrong way. "Do you like S?"
Brittany looked at Quinn with amused look, "Of course I do."
"I mean like her like her," Quinn added quietly.
The dancer withdrew from Quinn and sort of folded into herself. Her voice was barely audible when she said, "Santana told me not to say anything if anyone asked."
"C'mon B," Quinn scooted close to Brittany, "It's me. I'm totally dating Rachel now. I don't care about that stuff anymore."
"I love her," Brittany whispered.
Quinn nodded, her suspicions confirmed. She rubbed Brittany's arm. "It's okay B."
The taller girl leaned over and placed her head on Quinn's shoulder taking the pencil that was in Quinn's hand and wrote a heart under her name and then started scrawling out S-A-N-T-A-N-A.
Quinn smiled at Brittany and hugged her, "Santana will come around Brit. I promise. She loves you though. I know it."
Brittany nodded with a sigh, "Yeah. I know." She sat up, "Anyway, how's Rachel?"
Quinn couldn't stop a smile, "She's pretty awesome."
"Santana said since she's wears those weird clothes and is the way she is then she's probably freaky in bed," Brittany offhandedly added.
Quinn was sure if she was offended or proud of the fact that Santana was thinking about her girlfriend and her sexual prowess. Of course Santana was right, but she wasn't going to say it out loud. Oh the things Rachel could do with her tongue…
"Q?" Brittany asked with an amused smile.
"Huh?" Quinn snapped out of Rachelworld and looked up at the blonde who was standing.
"The bell rang."
"Oh," Quinn gathered her things and stood up.
When she walked into the hallway, she found Rachel talking to Puck across the hallway. She walked right up to them and slid her arm around Rachel's waist only catching the tail end of what Rachel was saying, "So if you have any ideas let me know."
"Strippers," he smirked. Then he hitched his chin to Quinn, "Hey Q."
"No strippers," Rachel unconsciously leaned into Quinn's touch, "It's not a bachelor party."
"What's not?" Quinn asked.
Rachel shook her head, "Nothing important." She kissed Quinn's cheek and looked back to Puck, "Just something Noah wants to ruin with half-naked women on poles."
"It won't ruin it," Puck smirked at them, "We might not even have to pay for it. We can just get Brittany a couple shots of tequila. Voila. Instant stripper."
"Noah!" Rachel frowned at him and was about to reprimand him when Santana came out of seemingly nowhere. She jumped on him in a way that Rachel could only describe as very spider-monkey.
Quinn made sure Rachel was out of the way before pulling Santana off of the poor boy who said the wrong thing as the two Cheerios walked past him.
"Take it back!" Santana yelled at him trying to get away from Quinn. This was a whole level of crazy that no one was used to, even from Santana.
"Okay, okay I take it back," Puck pressed himself against the lockers trying to get away.
"If you like your man parts you'd better get out of here," Quinn struggled to hold Santana back. Puck tried to walk down the hallway like he wasn't worried, but he walked faster than usual.
"Santana!" Coach Sylvester barked from the end of the hallway.
She immediately stopped struggling and looked to her coach, terrified. Quinn's arms dropped from around Santana and she took a step back. Her heart was pounding with terror. She felt a comforting, subtle hand on the small of her back. She tried to draw some strength from it.
"Teen Mom, Fun-Bags," Coach Sylvester frowned, "My office." She turned around and stalked off.
"Way to go," Quinn hissed at Santana, although she couldn't say she wouldn't have done the same thing if Puck had said that about Rachel.
Santana kicked a locker and stalked off toward the office, "I don't need your shit Fabray."
Quinn scanned the hallway and her eyes found Brittany who was standing against the lockers on the other side of the hallway. "Puck's an ass."
Brittany nodded, not showing any emotions. She just watched Santana disappear down the hallway.
"Can you do me a favor be and take Rachel to our table?" Quinn asked, glancing at the short brunette that was by her side. "I'm sure this won't take long."
Brittany looked back at Quinn and nodded.
Quinn looked back at Rachel, "You okay?"
"Quite," Rachel let out a weak smile and reached up to fix Quinn's ponytail. After it was back in place and her bangs were where they were supposed to be Rachel added, "You should probably go. Coach Sylvester didn't look happy."
Quinn blew out a stream of air, "I'll meet you in the cafeteria as soon as I can okay?" She dipped down to steal a kiss from Rachel before grabbing her stuff and following Santana, not waiting for answer.
Rachel smiled after Quinn. She figured this was what recreational drugs felt like. She never had or never would do drugs, but if drugs made people feel like she did every time she kissed Quinn, then she knew why people did them.
Brittany escorted Rachel to the popular table in the cafeteria. She received mixed greetings. Most the guys were cool with her being there and some of the Cheerios didn't mind. The glares and whispers directed at her didn't bother her because they came from the same Cheerios that usually slushied her.
"Hey Rachel," Finn said nervously across the long table.
"Hello Finn," she smiled at him. She suddenly wondered why he never bothered to try to introduce her to the popular table.
Puck walked up to the table and looked around, "Where's Santana?"
"Coach Sylvester's office," Rachel answered.
Puck looked at Brittany, "Hey, I'm sorry. That was mean. I'll probably get drunk and naked at Quinn's birthday party first anyway."
"You most certainly will not," Rachel frowned at him.
"Quinn's birthday party?" one of the Cheerios asked, "When is it?"
"It's not for another forty-seven days, but in order to make up for her last birthday I'm going to make sure her next birthday is the best one she's ever had," Rachel evenly explained, "Hence, I'm starting to plan now."
A round of 'aww's came from most of the Cheerios. Rachel found herself blushing at the sentiment. She definitely hadn't expected that.
"I wanna help," a redheaded Cheerio offered.
"Yeah me too," came from a Cheerio a few people down.
A few of the jocks offered to help as well. They all exchanged phone numbers and Rachel swore them all to secrecy.
"We could start a band," Puck offered, gesturing between him and Finn, "And learn all her favorite songs."
"Perfect," Rachel started jotting down notes as the discussion ballooned over the table.
"Are you going to sing her a song?" Brittany asked, picking at her fries.
"Of course," Rachel answered with a smile, hoping to get Brittany to smile. Since Santana was called to the office, she hadn't been engaged in the conversation.
"Guys she's coming," the redheaded Cheerio hushed the entire table as Quinn and Santana walked in.
Rachel quickly turned the page in her notebook to hide her notes and everyone else tried to start up conversations about things that had nothing to do with birthdays or parties.
Quinn walked up behind Rachel and looked at the football player that was sitting next to her. "Scooch."
The boy moved over and Quinn sat down next to Rachel.
"How'd it go?" Rachel asked, sliding her water bottle in front of Quinn.
The blonde picked it up and took a sip. She shrugged, "It was just to inform us that Nationals this year at in New York."
Rachel's eyes lit up, "Two competitions in New York. That's wonderful. I've never gotten to spend that much time in New York."
"You're coming?" Quinn asked questioningly.
"Of course I am," Rachel grinned, "It's the perfect excuse to peruse Broadway and Julliard and supporting you of course." Rachel watched Quinn take another drink before adding, "My aunt has an apartment in Manhattan so I can stay with her. Then I can show you my favorite vegan restaurant in the Upper West Side…"
This was the part where everyone else usually tuned Rachel out, but Quinn just smiled and nodded, continuing to listen to everything Rachel had to say, which was always a lot.
"Do you ever breathe?" Santana asked, interrupting Rachel.
Quinn shot her a glare, "Shut up Santana."
"Whatever," Santana rolled her eyes, "I'm outta here." She stood up and walked out of the cafeteria with Brittany on her heels.
Rachel shook her head after them, "What's wrong with her?"
"Who knows?" Quinn asked, resting her chin on Rachel's shoulder. She reached around Rachel and stole a grape off of her plate.
"Are you going to get your own food or shall I start making two lunches in the morning?" Rachel asked with a smile.
Quinn smiled and kissed the side of Rachel's head, "Nah, but I do love all those weird vegan foods you eat." Quinn took another grape and popped it in her mouth, "Oh yeah, what are your plans for tomorrow night?"
Rachel thought for a moment although she knew if she had something to do that night and Quinn wanted to do something with her then she'd blow off her plans. "I don't think so."
"Good," Quinn looked around the table and then back at Rachel, "I'm taking you out."
Rachel beamed, "Perfect."
Quinn turned to one of the Cheerios at the end of the table and started talking about official Cheerios business. Rachel knew not to interrupt such things. Not that Quinn would get mad at her, it was just important for Quinn to finish her business so that when she was done, she would focus on Rachel again.
"So," Finn attempted a conversation with Rachel, "Did the whole bet thing get you and Quinn together?"
Rachel nodded, "Yeah. After the kiss that won the bet we just kinda stayed friends. I got really confused and we didn't walk for a while." She glanced at Quinn who was still engrossed in a different story, "It just sorta happened."
Finn knew better than to ask Rachel if she cheated on him. That was the kind of drama he was hoping to avoid. He'd dealt with Rachel breaking up with him and now with the fact that most of the guys in the locker room were telling him that he was so bad in bed he turned girls gay. Of course when he told them that he didn't actually get Rachel into bed, then there was a whole other slew of insults as to whether or not he was gay. Anyway, he didn't want to know. In fact he figured that the less he knew about his two ex-girlfriends getting together, the better.
Rachel felt delicate fingers trailing up and down her back. She closed her eyes and smiled at Quinn's obvious uncaring if anyone saw her PDA. She leaned into Quinn and picked up the blonde's hand, kissing the back of her hand. "I-" Rachel started to say, but remember her promise to Quinn. She wouldn't drop the three little words on Quinn before her birthday. But it was getting so hard.
"What babe?" Quinn asked pulling away to hear Rachel better.
The shorter girl shook her head, "Nothing." She smiled at Quinn, "I, however, need to get to the library and print off my English paper."
"I'll come with you," Quinn offered.
Rachel didn't stop the blonde because she knew that the library was empty during most of the day, especially at lunch. And as it turned out, she didn't really have an English paper.