AN: I of course do not own any of the characters or the world that they live in. First time publishing, reviews and critiques welcome however, if you are going to slam the story just for the sake of slamming it, please don't waste your time or mine in doing so. As this is un beta'd all mistakes are mine.
"Dude wake up. Detention is over and Quinn is on her way over here do you really want her to see you drooling?"
"Noah... go away..." Rae grumbled as she tried to get comfortable on the bleachers.
Coach Sylvester had taken uncharacteristic pity on the two friends and dismissed them to the bleachers for the duration of the Cheerios practice. Rae was also a bit grumpy due to the fact that she knew she was going to be going home to an empty house. Her dads were hardly ever home now that Rae was in her junior year of highschool, they felt that she didn't need constant supervision and was self sufficient, allowing them to take an extended vacation/second honeymoon.
"Hey you two," Quinn greeted them "How are you getting home Rae?"
"Ummm I drove in so I kinda figured that's how I would get home, after dropping Noah off." Rae replied confused.
"Rae... you have been taking painkillers all day. Do you really think its safe for you to be driving?"
Sighing in frustration, even though she knew that the blonde was right Rae was trying not to lash out. "Fine Puck can drive to his house and I'll drive to mine after and if it will make you feel better you can follow me home to make sure I get there in one piece, and force more drugs on me." Rae smirked at Quinn before turning away and making her way down the bleachers.
"Shut it Puckerman" Quinn growled out as she heard the boy snicker behind her, and followed behind the point guard out towards the parking lot.
Rae tossed the keys to her truck over to Puck with a muttered warning about not messing her ride up before getting in on the passenger side.
Fifteen minutes later Rae pulled up to her house after a stopping at the store to pick up some junk food and pop and after deciding to play games with Quinn by speeding home taking shortcuts slowing down just enough to allow Quinn to see where she was turning before speeding up again. Grabbing her gym bag out of the truck having stuffed the purchases in it, Rae hustles up to her door unlocks it and leaves it open for the irritated cheer leader that is about to burst through the door in 5...4...3..2..1..
"What the hell kind of stunt was that Berry?" Quinn yelled slamming the door behind her.
"Right on time." Rae thinks to herself before walking towards the basement door.
"Don't walk away when I'm talking to you Rae." Quinn growled out.
"Well actually you are kinda shouting at me and if you don't mind I would like to go to my room and be a tad more comfortable for this chastising regarding my driving habits and the effects that I may have been experiencing from having taken pain killers all day." Without waiting for an answer Rae turns away from the blonde and heads downstairs, knowing that the irritated Cheerio would follow.
Tossing her keys onto the counter of the old bar, Rae heads into her room to take her clothes out of the duffle bag.
"Dammit Rae this is serious. You could have been hurt or hurt someone else."
Whirling around Rae stares at Quinn not having heard the other girl come up behind her.
"Jesus Christ Quinn, were you a cat in a previous life?" Sighing Rae reached into her pocket and pulled out the last pain killer that the cheerleader had given her before Glee. "See Quinn I haven't had any narcotics in four hours. I knew that I had to drive home so I didn't take the last one you gave me. However I am taking it now because my face and shoulder are killing me."
"OH MY GOD, you are such a jerk. You could have just told me." Quinn ranted
"You're right I could have, but then you wouldn't have followed me home and be standing in my room right now looking very sexy as you scold me." Rae giggled at the blush that covered Quinns face.
"You are lucky that you are in a sling Berry, otherwise I would kick your ass." At Rae's arched brow Quinn starts laughing as well "Okay I would try to kick your ass."
"Mmmhmmm" Rae agrees in amusement. "Did you tell your mom where you are?"
"She knows I'm at a friends place. She knows I'm here. I told her what had happened and why I missed my morning classes. She's cool with it. She's changed a lot since she left my father." Quinn replied distractedly as she took in Rae's room. It was a slate blue colour with hints of hunter green splashed here and there. A framed Chicago Bulls jersey was hanging on her wall along with a Red Socks Jersey. There was a 32 inch TV mounted on the wall opposite of the bed. A few pennants and posters decorated the walls. The room was simple and not overdone in sports memorabilia, it suited Rae.
"Well that's good. Ummm look if you want to stay you can. I don't have much to offer in the way of food as I live mostly on take out but you are more than welcome to help yourself."
"Where are your dads?"
"Somewhere in Europe."
"How long have you been living alone Rae?" Quinn asked softly having picked up on the bitterness in Rae's voice.
"About six months now. They are on their second honeymoon. Even when they are home... they aren't because they are always out of town for conferences or working late." Rae admits sadly.
Walking out to where her couch is, Rae sits down and turns on her 46 inch screen looking for something to watch.
"If you want there are towels on the second shelf in the bathroom you can have a shower seeing as you drove straight here after your practice and skipped one at school." Rae offered softly.
"Thank you. Hey Rae?" Quinn called out on her way to the en suite. "Would you go to the homecoming dance with me? I know that we aren't dating or were never really friends but..." Quinn was cut off as Rae's lips met hers in a searing kiss.
"Quinn Fabray I would be honoured to go to homecoming with you as your date but on one condition?"
'What's that?" Quinn asked hesitantly as she wrapped her arms, carefully mind you, around Rae's neck.
"Go out on a date with me the Friday before?"
"I'd love to."
Grinning Rae leaned up to kiss the head Cheerio again and pulled away before it could get too heated.
"Go shower woman." Rae growled half heartedly before sitting down on the couch again. "Oh yeah help your self to the top drawer in my dresser I have basketball shorts or sweats and t-shirts that you can borrow."
When Quinn steps out of the shower she can hear giggling from out in the living area and a bubbly blondes voice teasing Rae.
"Honestly Rae you should have told me that Q was here. I thought you were going to be home alone again. I would have gone to San's for the night. She's pouting right now because I told her I couldn't come over."
"What did you tell her this time Britt?"
"That I thought it was time for the family to stage an intervention for Lord Tubbington and his hoarding in his litter box."
Rae began laughing hysterically at the staged innocence on the bubbly blondes face.
"Oh My God Britt. How has she not noticed that you have been pulling her leg this whole time."
"Because Santana only sees what she wants to see when it comes to Brittany." Quinn commented from the bedroom doorway.
"I swear to all that's holy I'm putting a bell around your neck Fabray." Rae muttered with out turning to look at the head Cheerio. "However I think you should let the cat out of the bag now Britt. I mean Santana loves you, any idiot with two eyes can see it, but wouldn't you rather her love the real you and not 'dumb Britt'?"
"Wait What?" Quinn asked walking over to the couch not noticing Rae's glazed over expression once the point guard saw Quinn in her clothes. Giggling Britt poked Rae in the ribs.. "Ow wha... oh yeah umm, Britt you should answer this."
"Ok, ummm..." Britt began nervously "The Britt you know at school is just a persona. I figured by playing dumb while a cheerleader that I wouldn't have to hurt anyone or participate in the bullying but still keep my spot. I love being a Cheerio but I never wanted to be a part of the hazing that goes on at the school. I know everyone thinks that Coach bullied the teachers into allowing me into the AP classes, but honestly I'm in there on my own merit. Rae and I met the summer after junior high at dance camp. I mean we knew who each other were but at camp I let my guard slip and Rae always treated me like any other person as it was so I admitted what I had been pretending and we became friends. Rae made me promise not to reveal that we were friends so I wouldn't miss out on being a Cheerio and she made me promise again once I was a Cheerio not to reveal our friendship because she didn't want others to pick on me for our friendship."
"IS THAT why you always begged me not to be mean to her?" Santana's voice asked from the bottom of the stairs. "And why you lied to me tonight and have been lying to me?"
"San..." Brittany trailed off as the Latina turned and ran up the stairs.
"Shit.." Rae jumped up and chased after the hot headed cheerleader before the other two of the trinity could react.
"SANTANA WAIT!" Rae yelled afraid for the other girl to be driving in her emotional state.
"Get Lost Freak." Santana tossed back as she reached the front door.
Sighing Rae did the next best thing even though it might mean bodily harm.. "Fuck You Lopez Need I remind you that you are in MY HOUSE. At least I'm not a coward."
"What did you call me?" Santana asked threateningly turning around to face the pint sized girl.
"I called you a coward. Instead of giving that girl who loves you a chance to explain, you ran away like a lil bitch. Oh yes I'm aware that you will go all Lima Heights Adjacent on my ass, but you know what? I don't care. At least I had courage today. Can you say the same?" Rae demanded from the hot headed girl in front of her.
"You got balls Berry. Not even Q would have stood up to me like that." Santana smirked after a few minutes of intense staring.
Shaking her head Rae calls down to the other two. "Britt can you come up here please."
"What are you doing?" Santana whispered frantically
"You two are going to talk this out here and now." Rae replied simply as she snatched the keys from the Latina's hand. Rae waited calmly as the hotheaded cheerleader glared at her. Rae knew the moment that Britt reached the Latina's vision, her face crumpled in agony at seeing the normally bubbly blonde, currently crying. "You are not leaving here until you work this out. Despite how abrasive and mean you are, she loves you. Lord only knows why, but she does. Once you have worked it out come downstairs and I'll give you your keys back."
After giving Brittany a hug and whispered words of encouragement Rae made her way back downstairs to her living area. Sighing she tossed Santana's keys beside hers on the counter.
Second AN Note: Thank you to those of you that have left reviews so far no one has had anything rude to say. Like I said I don't mind bad reviews as long as there is something constructive about it.