Hi! It's been a while. Blame college for my absence. Here's some more content and Quinn's actually in this chapter. And Finn.

You know, getting to this much written and publishing it is a great feat for me and that makes me happy—even if does need some work. I'll try to upload in one month's time.

It was finally after school, Rachel only had to go to drop everything off in her locker before she made her way to the auditorium and meet up with Quinn, and with her… friends spying on them. Friends. A smile spreads on her face.

Huh, that's not something she thought she would ever think and genuinely mean it. Even if it were for the drama for it, Kurt, Mercedes, and Tina were still looking out for her. In their own way.

'Well, first time for everything,' she thought.

Her only stop before going to the auditorium was grabbing a CD for the music player that was located there, she already had a song selected to sing for Quinn. It did take her nor really pay attention in English, but it was easy enough to ignore. It was only a review session.

Rachel couldn't wait to show her skills off for Quinn.

Hopefully, there wouldn't be murder or kidnappings like Kurt mentioned at lunch. She really wanted a friendship with Quinn.

Yes, friendship. Her previous reactions to Quinn aside.

Besides, an abrupt end to her fledging Broadway career was also a hindrance she didn't need.

As she walked down the hall, she saw most of the other students were leaving to go home while a small percentage of them were prepping for after school activities. They were too busy with their own lives to take note of Rachel scurrying to her locker. Rachel liked to be the first person in any place, like to glee and class, and now especially to the auditorium. She also tried to hurry up to avoid Finn Hudson.

Finn Hudson was oddly taken with her for the last two weeks and she had no clue as to why. She thinks that he might want to go out with her but every time he starts to ask, they got interrupted. It was flattering because of his status that he wanted to date her.

She only knew him from Glee, he was apparently a veteran member, because she didn't share any classes with him even though they were both seniors. When she asked Kurt, who was his stepbrother, he said that Finn wasn't the sharpest knife in the kitchen and that was probably why they didn't share any classes. Rachel herself was in most of the AP classes, besides English. She's in normal English Literature for that one.

Rachel is very much focused on getting out of Lima, so she hasn't been too disappointed when they got interrupted in the past, but now, she just wanted to avoid any form of confrontation with the Quarterback, more so since she has a meeting with Quinn in a about ten minutes.

Too bad Rachel's wishes wouldn't be granted right this moment; Finn was right behind her. His shadow covered most of her locker. She held in a sigh. She rummaged through her locker to grab her on-the-go CD case and grabbed the one she was looking for.

"Hey, Rachel," Finn greeted with a confident, yet childish, tone to his voice. It's how he's always greeted her since their encounters since they met earlier into Senior Year.

Rachel turned around and strained her neck to look at him in the eyes. His tall stature only made her more aware of how short she truly was, but she liked looking someone in the eyes.

"Good afternoon, Finn. I have something to do, so I'm sorry if I'm unable to assist you right now," Rachel stated offhandedly.

"Really? Please, just give me a sec'. I was hoping you would help me with this week's Glee Club assignment 'cos I know you got a great voice. I got some good songs to sing, but I'm not totally sure which one to do," Finn said. He shuffled from foot to foot, getting a bit nervous.

Yes, even though Rachel couldn't wait to see Quinn at this moment, she did love her ego stroked and Finn was complimenting her music skills. It one of her weaknesses. Him being nervous was also letting her guard down around the boy.

"Well, I suppose I can quickly look over the list you have," Rachel replied.

"I don't have it with me, it's in my locker. We can go there right now," Finn said. He steps back so they could walk there but Rachel doesn't move.

"Finn... I can't, I don't think I have enough time to help if you don't have it with you," Rachel commented.

"Come on, Rach, it won't be that long," Finn whined. It seemed like he was trying to hide the tone from his voice, but Rachel picked up on it.

It aggravated her; she opened her mouth to respond.

"Rachel!" Kurt called out. Rachel thanked God for the interruption, she doesn't want to deal with Finn today out of all possible days. She didn't even know what she was about to spew out at Finn.

"Kurt?" Rachel asked, feigning a confused attitude. She looked over to Kurt but still managed to catch Finn's expression.

Finn was giving her an intense stare, almost questioning her. She didn't like the feeling.

"What are you doing here, Kurt?" Finn asked his attention now on Kurt.

"I need to talk to Rachel about Glee, Finn," Kurt said, stressing his name.

"I was too, and I was here first," Finn countered. His annoyed look directed at Kurt.

The look reminded her of a constipated baby, funny enough. It did give her a slight concern on why Finn was acting aggressively towards his own stepbrother. She decided to step in and save Kurt from Finn.

"Finn," Rachel started. Finn softened as he turned back to her. "I promised Kurt I would help him. He was the previous commitment I had."

"But we have Glee tomorrow and I need your help now." Finn pouted.

Rachel easily ignored it. "I'll help you during lunch then, Finn. From what I've observed, Mr. Schue is very lenient on members who don't do the weekly assignments. I can also always help you with next week's assignment."

"You sure?" Finn asked for confirmation.

"Absolutely," she replied.

"Alright, we can have lunch together tomorrow. I wanna make Mr. Schue be happy with me," Finn stated. He gave her a smile, she returned it with a plastered-on smile. "See ya later, Rach." He didn't wait for Rachel to confirm.

Kurt and Rachel saw Finn walked down the now-empty hall. They waited until he went around the corner. They make their way to the auditorium.

"Where are Mercedes and Tina?" Rachel asked. They were speed walking and Rachel's legs started to burn in the short walk. She really needed to start up her exercising regiment again, she just didn't have the time anymore between the workload her AP classes gave her and her dance class. Maybe she'll go for a run on weekends. It had to be anything.

"They're already there, hiding. I'm supposed to get a text if Fabray comes early but it seems like she one for a late entrance. That's great for us," Kurt stated.

Rachel sees Quinn walk in all her skank glory, looking the same as she did this morning, as she finished setting up the CD player and preselected the music from the soundtrack.

Quinn looked great in Rachel's eyes as she did this morning: ripped jeans, leather jacket, and her grey shirt seemed to have an upside-down Christian Cross. It went with her aesthetic.

She still hoped it wasn't real cowhide. Maybe she'll get Quinn a synthetic leather jacket.

She saw Quinn look around the auditorium as if she were walking into it for the first time ever. Rachel looks over her shoulder as Quinn is distracted and sees that she's alone. She lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"Have you never been here before?" Rachel teased.

"Never. I try to avoid any and all assemblies this school has," Quinn replied honestly. Her hands are in her pockets as she stands on one end of the stage.

It's not surprising for Rachel to hear but she doesn't say anything about it.

"I do have a question before we begin," Rachel said as she approached the other girl.

"What is it?" Quinn asked, prompting for Rachel to continue.

"How did you know what class I have?" Rachel asked. She's grateful that there was no tone of nervousness in her voice.

Quinn blinked. "What?"

"You know what class I had earlier, how? Are you really a stalker? I'll have you know that I know krav maga and have been training since I was five years old," Rachel rambled.

Quinn waited for her to stop talking. "As much as I would love to do that, I didn't stalk you. I'm just very perceptive."

"Explain," Rachel replied, raising her own eyebrow. She's pretty sure it's not as intimidating as Quinn if the smirk that plays on Quinn's lips are any indication.

"You were carrying an AP English Literature book. I used my extremely high deductive reasoning skills to figure out what your class was," Quinn teased. "So no, I didn't deliberately stalk you."

Rachel's face flushed with embarrassment. "Oh."

"Yes, oh," Quinn replied back in a joking tone. "Does that answer your question if I'm your stalker yet?"

"Um, well, yes. I suppose it has."

"What's the verdict then?"

"That you are not a stalker of any sort, just really... perspective. Uncannily so."

"That I am," Quinn stated, her smirk only grew. "Now, can I finally hear your voice that you boasted about? I'm curious."

"Quinn Fabray, I'm about to rock your world," Rachel teased as she moved to the CD player that was towards the back of the stage.

Quinn raised an eyebrow and hummed as Rachel pressed play and went back to center stage.

A soft piano began to play.

Time to show Quinn what Rachel Berry is made of, pure talent.

Rachel began to sing No One Else from the Great Comet of 1812, getting sucked into playing the role the song required her to act out while she sang. When Rachel performs, she gets into her own little world where she interacts with the music, and this time was no different.

She almost forgot Quinn was still in the room if it weren't for her sixth sense reminding her that Quinn was staring intensely at her.

It's a wonderful feeling singing gives her, she hopes it touches Quinn somehow. It's the greatest achievement for a singer, directing an adoring crowd to feel what they feel with only the power of their voice.

Rachel just needed her voice to convince Quinn to join, but a little something more is never a bad thing.

The song itself is about naive love and how it makes someone feel—which Rachel knew a thing or two about.

"You and I

You and I

You and I!" Rachel belts out the last note. She brought it back down, "and no one else."

The CD player stopped, Rachel lets the pause sink in before she made her way back to her grab her disc, not paying attention to Quinn anymore.

"So, how was I, Quinn?" Rachel breathily said. She was breathing in and out to calm herself down, singing always did raise her adrenaline.

"Oh, that was," Quinn started but quickly drifted off. Rachel can't identify her tone of voice, so she turned around and stared at her, hoping to get more out of Quinn.

She noticed that Quinn's face was a bit red, but Quinn quickly averted her face away from her.

Wait.

Is…

Is Quinn… unsteady? No, that's not the word. Disarmed, maybe? Well, she looks a bit nervous…

Did Rachel actually make Quinn nervous?

Wait, Quinn has lost her composure with Rachel.

That's certainly a first from the other girl. From the very short meeting Rachel had with Quinn this morning, she didn't think she could make the other girl lose her cool so soon. She honestly thought it would take more.

But it seemed almost fitting that Rachel's greatest asset—her voice—was the reason Quinn lost her composure. Rachel can't help but feel very proud of herself for achieving that reaction. It only proved how talented her voice can be.

"Did I leave you speechless, Quinn? My voice has that effect on people," Rachel simply stated.

Quinn continued to stare away from her, but slowly and surely stood up from the piano bench and turned to give Rachel her full attention.

Rachel couldn't see her green-hazel colored eyes anymore; they were now a dark amber color.

She was the one speechless now.

"You certainly did blow my expectations away," Quinn muttered. Her voice took on a husky tone that didn't help calm Rachel down. Rachel's also sure that her friends wouldn't be able to pick up what the pink-haired girl was saying. "I don't think I've heard anyone that good in person. You are… very talented, Rachel."

The sound of her name on Quinn's lips has yet to fail to send a shiver down her spine.

Rachel cleared her throat. "Thank you, Quinn. Are you now considering joining us?" she tried to redirect. It was getting a bit too intense for her at the moment.

Quinn hummed but didn't answer her. She only took a step towards Rachel.

Rachel moved backwards.

"Maybe I'll join." Quinn stepped closer to her. Rachel took another step back. "I'm not sure if I'm Glee Club ready material. Perhaps, I do need some vocal assistance."

Rachel's back hit the wall behind her, with the curtain blocking them, she knew that her friends couldn't see her anymore. Quinn was only inches in front of her.

She looked like she wanted to devour Rachel right then and there.

And Rachel would gladly let her.

"Quinn?" Rachel asked. She surprised herself but if her mind was getting foggy from Quinn's close proximity, she needed to recompose herself, especially when Kurt, Tina, and Mercedes were still supposed to be watching over them.

It seemed like that calling out her name made Quinn snap to attention. Rachel felt disappointment flow through her. Disappointment for what, Rachel couldn't explain right now—not with Quinn so close.

"Well? Will I get vocal training from you?" Quinn asked.

"Yes, of course," Rachel replied hastily, mind muddled.

"Glee Club's tomorrow after school, right? We'll meet up for lunch. That should be alright for you, right?" Quinn asked.

Rachel could still fill the fog in her mind. "I have no prior commitments."

"Good," said Quinn. She gave Rachel a smirk. "Until then, Rachel."

With that, Quinn walked out of the auditorium, hands in her ripped jeans. Rachel stared at her leather jacket as she left. Her body felt too wired up to be able to move.

Quinn Fabray… a name that's now imprinted in Rachel's mind. She's almost sure that the girl will change her life, even if she didn't want Quinn to do it. Rachel's glad that she's managed to get her to join Glee Club. Baby steps.

Or big steps? Rachel can admit they've moved along at a faster pace than normal. She feels the electricity course through her when Quinn close. To think this morning, she met Quinn because she stabbed someone.

She must have been standing there a while, in a trance, because the next thing she knows, she's surrounded by Kurt, Mercedes, and Tina.

"Glad you're not dead, or kidnapped," Mercedes said, catching Rachel's attention.

"Yeah, I'm a little more than happy about that too," Rachel replied, a bit dazed still.

Kurt snapped his finger in front of her eyes. "I'm questioning if that's what we're supposed to be worried about. What did she do to you after you sang? We couldn't catch anything after that."

"It was…" Rachel started, gathering her thoughts, "an experience to say the least."

"Maybe we should take this somewhere else?" Tina suggested. "In case Quinn comes back."

"I doubt that," replied Mercedes. "But we should definitely go. We can go to the Lima Bean; the skanks don't hang out there."

Rachel kept the assuming comment to herself.