N/A This chapter is for everyone who has followed, alerted or made this story a favourite. You all mean a lot. This chapter is also for 'gllover22'; you have been with this story since the beginning, reviewing each chapter, so I thought I'd give you a shout-out! Thank you. To people that don't review; you still mean just as much because you are reading my story. Right, on with the show! Have a happy Saturday!

Enjoy, my little story buddies. xxx

As the obnoxious alarm rang out through the room, Rachel slowly sat up and rubbed at her blurry eyes. She really wasn't good when she didn't get at least 6 hours sleep and she wasn't sure she even got that.

As her eyes adjusted to the sunlight streaming in through the curtains, she noticed that the person who had also took vacancy in her room last night was gone, the laptop removed and the light off. Rachel bit her lip. She really wanted to talk to Quinn about last night but the girl obviously didn't want to stick around for the morning-after.

Shaking her head, she got out of bed and started doing her morning routine. She wondered what would be on the menu for breakfast.

~O~X~O~X~O~X~O~

The first classes of the day went pretty quickly. Rachel had sat with Mike in Biology and they had once again played Tic Tac Toe, Mike beating her by too much to count; she really didn't get how she kept losing! Mike explained that she should try coming back to another glee session. She was slightly surprised that the boy even mentioned it; no one else had, not even Quinn. He explained that Mr Schue had just been a little hyper because it was the first session back but the curly haired man is a little calmer now. Rachel said that she would think about it and she wasn't lying; she would. It would mean that she could spend more time with Quinn and Santana, it could be fun… note the 'could'.

As the lunch bell rang, Mike said his goodbyes and made his way to the cafeteria, knowing that Rachel never came. The brunette hesitated for a second. Everything that happened yesterday has made her feel tired in some aspects but more determined in others. The fight that had happened between her and Nick hadn't ended well, but she just didn't feel like going into the cafeteria yesterday; maybe it was because Quinn wasn't there. Mike was just outside the door when Rachel called after him.

"Yeah?" Mike asked, giving her a small smile.

"I'm coming too," Rachel smiled, nervousness edging her words.

"Okay," the boy grinned.

He didn't ask any questions about why this was only her first time of eating lunch with everyone since being here for two weeks; everyone has their own problems, he didn't want to push the brunette.

Walking along with Mike, Rachel's heartbeat was increasing to a dangerous level. She thought that if she just kept going with the flow of all the other students, she would be in the cafeteria before she realised it and then she wouldn't have any other option than just to eat there.

Mike kept glancing her way, feeling the tension coming off the girl. Thankfully, a familiar voice stepped in to help out.

"Rachel?" Quinn said, as she spotted the brunette just ahead of her.

Both Mike and Rachel turned around at the name. Mike gave Quinn a quick wave, as the blonde smiled back and mouthed that he could go on. Rachel sighed subtly, thankful to have Quinn around, even though she didn't know why; Mike had been good enough company.

"Hi," Rachel said back, moving over to the side near the lockers as Quinn caught up with her.

"Y-you, I thought you would meet me at the bleachers?" Quinn asked, surprised to see Rachel in the school at lunchtime.

The brunette suddenly didn't realise why she hadn't just gone straight to the bleachers. It was the easier option. She shook her head. No, she needed to do this. She could do this.

"I was going to come and eat with you lot in the cafeteria," Rachel said, trying to smile.

Quinn didn't seem to follow. She knew that Rachel had a problem with eating in there; she didn't know what problem, but it was a problem nonetheless. So, why did she want to come in today?

As if Rachel could see Quinn trying to work things out, she thought she'd make an excuse.

"It's not fair that you don't eat with your friends because of me," Rachel explained, starting to move towards the lunch room.

Quinn was going to say that she sort of preferred just eating with Rachel, but the brunette was already moving off.

As they neared the double doors, Quinn instinctively put her hand at the small of the brunette's back, resting lightly on top of Rachel's soft hoody. The brunette relaxed a little at the touch, knowing she had Quinn there; she wasn't alone.

Pushing the door open with her hand, she had to bite her lip hard to keep her legs moving forward instead of stopping dead still.

She looked back at Quinn slightly, almost to ask where they had to go, but the blonde was already thinking ahead, pushing Rachel's back in the direction of the lunch queue.

Standing in the line, Rachel's brain started to catch up with her actions. She was in the cafeteria; the crowded, loud and packed cafeteria. The lunch queue was made so that once you were in it there was no exit until the till at the end, where you paid.

Rachel could feel her heartbeat increasing and her eyes looking frantically around. God, she just wanted to feel calm! Why was she scared? She hated anxiety.

Just when Rachel thought that maybe if she pretended to drop her bag, she could crawl under the barrier and run out, Quinn's hand slowly and hesitantly slipped into Rachel's shaking one.

The brunette was stood just a little in front of Quinn, so luckily she couldn't see the blonde's worried expression. Quinn didn't know what to do other than to hold Rachel's hand. She had been watching the girl since they entered, she could see when Rachel started to breath really deeply and when the brunette was about to drop her bag. She didn't know if she was crossing borders or pushing her friendship by holding Rachel's hand, but by the fact that the brunette was now breathing normally and relaxing into the touch, she thought that it was okay. She wasn't going to lie; it was nice to have some contact as well.

Walking up to the food place, Rachel just asked for the vegetable stew; Quinn ordered the same. Paying quickly, they both walked over to the glee table, sitting down next to each other. Santana was next to Rachel, as Puck flanked Quinn's side.

"Hey you," Santana smiled at Rachel, as the girl slipped onto the bench.

Santana had thought over what had happened yesterday and realised how nice Rachel had actually been. Yes, she had been pushy as hell but in the end it was all for Santana's benefit. She thought that she might actually be able to like this newbie.

"Hey," Rachel smiled back.

She was thankful that no one was bringing up the fact that she was actually eating in school. Instead, they all just said hello, even people that she only briefly met in her first glee session.

"Oh, Rachel," Mercedes piped up, before rummaging in her bag.

Rachel and Mercedes had become good friends since spending most of their History lessons chatting about different songs and music related subjects. Mercedes kept mentioning all the singing she likes to do and it took Rachel a lot of willpower not to mention that she too liked to sing, but just didn't.

"Yeah?" Rachel smiled up at the girl who was sitting diagonally to her.

"I've got you this," Mercedes passed over a CD, "it's one of my old ones, I've already put it onto my iPod, but I know that you said you liked these songs."

The brunette looked down and grinned when she saw 'The Very Best of Disney' staring back at her. She didn't want to mention that she didn't have a CD player or an iPod but thanked the girl profusely nonetheless. She really did love a good bit of Disney.

Slipping the CD into her bag at her feet, she went back to eating her stew. Santana was leaning forward and chatting with Brittany opposite her, holding their hands between them on the table. Brittany lent forward and whispered sweet nothings into Santana's ear, which caused the brunette to lean forward and capture Brittany's lips in a heated kiss.

Rachel was looking down at her bowl but casted her eyes upwards at the sound. Blood immediately rushed to her cheeks and she quickly looked back down. She didn't know why she was blushing, she wasn't the one kissing!

"Oi oi, this is a public area," Puck shouted over from his spot.

"Shh dude, it's fine," Finn said from his spot next to Mercedes before going back to ogle at the two kissing girls.

"Finn, you're gross," Quinn jokily remarked as she raised her eyebrow at the boy.

"Like you don't mind," Finn winked back at the blonde.

"I don't mind my friends participating in a kiss, but I do mind teenage boys getting turned on by it," Quinn said back, finishing her stew.

"You knew what I meant," the boy grinned dopily, as Santana finally stopped making out with her girlfriend.

"God, you guys bickering totally ruins the mood," Santana sighed as she went back to stroking Brittany's leg with her foot instead.

Rachel had kept quiet because it was entertaining listening to everyone else and also because she was probably watching the kissing pair a bit too much, but mainly because she was trying to decipher what Finn was joking about but in the end gave up because Santana was now tapping her arm.

"I was just wondering," the girl whispered close to Rachel's ear, "when are we going to, you know, do the thing we talked about?"

Rachel's eye went wide. Huh?

"What thing?" Rachel asked, feeling a little out-of-it.

"The umm," Santana then coughed lightly to cover up her next word, "tutoring."

"Ooh," Rachel laughed at herself, "whenever is good for you?"

Santana lent back a little bit, now that she had said the word. She couldn't dare let Puck know about her getting tutored, he wouldn't let her live it down.

"I'm free tonight after Glee?" Santana shrugged, stabbing a piece of fruit with her fork.

"Yeah, that should be okay," Rachel smiled, only to realise that she would have to now tell Santana about Stoneson.

"Here at school? Or somewhere else?" the other girl replied, popping the melon into her mouth.

School could be better; at least it would mean that Santana didn't have to know about her living arrangements. But then again, Quinn was good friends with Santana and the brunette probably knew about where the blonde lived. It wasn't really that bad telling her, she was just scared of the reaction she would get. She has told some people in her past and they either didn't talk to her again or just acted differently towards her.

"You can come to mine?" Rachel said weakly.

"Sure thing," Santana smiled.

Santana knew that Rachel was nervous about saying where she lived. She would explain to Rachel there and then that she didn't mind she lived in a home; she could completely relate, but she wanted the girl to tell Santana herself, it was her private information after all.

"I, umm, live at a place called Stoneson," Rachel explained quietly, just to Santana, "other people live with me, but it should be fine."

Santana smiled reassuringly at Rachel. Santana knew it would be fine because she made Justin let her see Quinn all the time when she had just moved out; the man would be delighted to see her again.

"Oh, you live with Quinn then?" Santana said quietly back.

Rachel smiled a little at that.

"Yeah," the brunette replied, "you know about Stoneson?"

Santana just hugged Rachel round the shoulders, as she replied.

"I know all about Stoneson."

Rachel smiled into the hug. That made it so much easier. At least Santana wasn't judging her or anything.

"That's good," Rachel grinned as Santana ended the sideways hug, "so come round at, say, 7?"

"Sounds good," the other girl smiled back, before finishing her conversation with Brittany.

As Rachel moved back to her previous position, having unconsciously scooted a little closer to Santana during their conversation, she looked down at her stew and crinkled her nose because it had gone cold. She was no longer hungry.

"Everything okay?" Quinn asked politely from beside the brunette.

Rachel smiled at her friend's question.

"Everything's fine," Rachel turned to look at the blonde.

The fact that she was sat in the cafeteria hadn't even entered her mind since she joined the group to eat. And it was all down to Quinn helping her to get in.

"Could I also borrow that CD that Mercedes gave you?" the blonde asked shyly.

"Of course Quinn! You like Disney too?" Rachel turned a little in her seat to see Quinn better.

"I-I've never really listened to much Disney, or watched any," the blonde shrugged.

Rachel's heart fell. As cliché as it sounds, Disney what got Rachel through some tough times. The cheesy, heartfelt songs gave her slithers of hope, little raindrops of strength. She loved Disney and now she felt like it was her mission to get Quinn to love it too.

"Right, this Saturday after you finish work, we will go into town and buy 'The Lion King', we will then go home and watch it on your laptop and afterwards we can listen to the CD while eating ice cream," Rachel grinned like a Cheshire cat; she was suddenly so excited for this week to end.

Quinn couldn't help but laugh. It sounded like such a simple yet fun day; just how some days should be. She was smiling until she realised she would have to work before having fun with Rachel; she found working in the shop down the road so boring. Unfortunately, it did bring in good money though.

Quinn had an idea. Rachel was talking about how she wanted to earn some money so she could afford herself a cell phone, so Quinn was about to make a proposition.

"Come with me to work on Saturday?" Quinn smiled at Rachel.

"Um, why?" the brunette giggled.

"You want a job right?" Quinn continued, "well, my manager did say to me ages ago when Ella was trying to find a job that if the she wanted to work with me she could, but we would both be paid half each. So, you can work with me when I do my five hours and we can share the pay?"

Rachel was a little surprised. She had only mentioned wanting a job when Quinn was getting ready for work last Saturday morning. The blonde works from 8 until 1 and earns a fair amount for such little time. The offer sounded very enticing but it would be cutting Quinn's pay in half.

"I can't do that Quinn," Rachel shook her head, resulting in a few strands of her to fall in front of her face, "you would get less pay."

The blonde shook her head. The pay was good, yes, but having Rachel there would be better.

"I really don't mind," Quinn smiled, "I want you there."

Rachel had to contain her grin; she didn't want to seem too crazy. It was probably the first time anyone had ever actually expressed wanting the brunette to be with them. Most people couldn't wait until she was gone.

"Only if it's 100% okay with you?" Rachel just had to make sure.

"200%," Quinn grinned.

"Deal; I'll work with you," Rachel smiled, "and then afterwards we can go and buy 'The Lion King' and then listen to the CD on your laptop."

Quinn and Rachel began to laugh. It just seemed right to laugh; they were discussing about a Disney afternoon. It was so childish, but so good.

After they calmed down and Rachel retracted her hand from Quinn's arm, having gripped the blonde in her moment of excitement, she realised what she had just said. They would listen to the music on Quinn's laptop; the laptop that Quinn had turned up last night. The one she had turned up after turning the light on. Rachel's mood immediately went more serious, not going unnoticed by the concerned blonde.

"Rachel, you okay?" Quinn asked, having seen Rachel's eyebrows furrow.

"Yeah, sorry, was just thinking," the brunette nodded the question away.

"Oh, okay," the blonde said as she turned back in her seat but kept her eyes focussed on Rachel.

The brunette couldn't keep the words in. She wanted to help the blonde. Quinn did help her get into the cafeteria after all; it was only fair to return the favour.

"I saw you last night," Rachel said almost silently into her and Quinn's space, getting the blonde's attention immediately.

"I saw you turn the light on," the brunette carried on, "and turn the volume up."

Quinn's breathing had slowed down so much; she feared that she couldn't feel herself breathing at all. Grabbing her bag from between her legs, she lifted herself up from the bench and calmly walked out of the cafeteria, not wanting to gather people's attention.

"Shit," Rachel mumbled to herself, immediately regretting mentioning it.

"Hey, is Quinn okay?" Santana nudged Rachel's arm from beside her.

"Umm, yeah, she just mentioned that she was going to the toilet, I'm probably going to go too," Rachel made an excuse, before leaving as well, not waiting for a reply.

Pushing the doors of the cafeteria open, she saw Quinn was casually leaning back on a locker, fiddling with the ring on her finger. The girl's choppy blonde hair was creating curtains round her face.

Rachel shifted the bag on her back and cautiously walked over to stand in front of her friend.

The air was thick and silent and Rachel now knew that Quinn was no fan of quietness.

"I'm sorry-"

Quinn interrupted the brunette before the girl could go into a full apology.

"It's okay," the blonde lifted her head, "it's okay, I was just a little overwhelmed by what you said and if we're going to talk, I would rather it was out here."

Rachel felt like she wanted to hug the blonde, but decided against it.

"I understand," the brunette nodded, "but we don't have to talk about anything right now, I just wanted you to know that I did see you and I don't mind. I'm not going to tell anyone or demand a reason for it; I just want you to know that I'm here."

Obviously Quinn's mind was different to Rachel's, as the blonde moved two steps forward and wrapped her arms around the brunette's petite shoulders. Rachel gasped slightly, before snaking her arms around Quinn's waist and revelling in the comfort it brought. Both girls didn't want to mention how ridiculously well they fitted together because that didn't matter; what mattered was they found each other. They both needed a friend and what better friend to have than each other?

Quinn pulled back first. She wasn't really a hugging person; it brought too many emotions and she sort of liked to avoid those things. Becoming too close to someone only ended in pain, but she was finding it harder and harder to not become friends with Rachel; there was an invisible pull.

"Thank you," Quinn replied after a couple of seconds.

"Thank you to you as well," Rachel tucked her hair behind one ear, "I wouldn't have had lunch in there if it wasn't for you."

Quinn smiled back as she cocked her head.

"Why, umm, why don't you like eating in there?" the blonde asked timidly, crossing her right leg over her left.

Rachel looked down at her shoes before her eyes went forward and looked at Quinn's legs. They looked smooth. She closed her eyes; she might as well tell Quinn. It was clear the girl wasn't going to judge and it was hardly her biggest secret.

"I have anxiety," Rachel said simply as she casted her eyes back up to meet warm hazel ones.

"I don't like crowds or busy places in general and I can't really cope when I don't have an exit route in sight," the brunette finished with a little shrug and a smile as if to say, 'there it is, that's me, take it or leave it'.

"And you went in there today and did it?" Quinn asked, a small smile gracing her pink lips.

"Did what?" Rachel asked, a little confused and surprised that Quinn just accepted the fact that Rachel had anxiety.

"You beat it," Quinn's eyes scanned the brunette's face, momentarily flicking to her lips before looking back at the girl's eyes, "you beat your anxiety today. And you will do it again tomorrow and then the next day, until your anxiety no longer rules you, but you rule it. I don't mind Rachel; you having anxiety hardly defines who you are."

Rachel didn't notice the small tear that escaped her right eye, until her hand instinctively came up to wipe it away. No one had ever given her hope about her anxiety. Her dads brushed past it like it didn't exist, because in their world it didn't matter. Dave didn't really understand it; it wasn't that he didn't care; he just couldn't give advice because he didn't relate. Also, they both had many more problems to cope with in their home that her anxiety took a back seat for a little while. But Quinn; Quinn had just made her feel stronger than she had in ten years, all from a simple reassuring, yet slightly cliché, speech.

"God dammit, you're going to make me cry Quinn," Rachel giggled out, easing the tension.

Quinn just smiled at her.

"I mean it though. I'll be with you," the blonde nodded.

The school bell ring before Rachel had the chance to say anything back. Before they knew it, students started to exit the cafeteria. Unfortunately, they didn't share their next class, but as Quinn started to make her way past Rachel to go to Home Economics, she whispered in the girl's ear.

"You told me you have anxiety," Quinn said quietly, "well, I'm petrified of the silence and dark from something that happened to me in my past. We'll leave that story for another time though."

And with that, the blonde was gone, only giving Rachel a small smile over her shoulder before turning the corner.

Rachel really shouldn't have shivered that much when Quinn had whispered to her. Also, she couldn't contain her little happy squeal escaping her lips, when she finally felt like she had a friend. A friend that was willing to help her with her problems and a friend that also had problems herself which Rachel was more than willing to help fix. They had each other.

Rachel made her way to Computing with a grin on her face. No one was going to ruin this day.

~O~X~O~X~O~X~O~

Or maybe they were.

That god damn Glee teacher was a pain in her ass.

"So, you don't want to try?" Mr Schue whispered to Rachel as she was talking to him at the piano.

"No, Mr Schue, I don't want to try. I want to sit here and watch my friends have fun. I might join in on the dancing or help with the choreography or something, but I don't sing," Rachel explained clearly, giving the teacher an over-sweet smile before rolling her eyes and making her way to sit next to Quinn.

"Just ignore him, he soon gets the point," Quinn said as Rachel sat down, "it just takes him time."

"I can tell," Rachel mumbles to the blonde, resulting in Quinn laughing.

"It's cool that you've come today," the blonde whispered, "I think you'll end up loving it here."

Rachel hoped so. Everyone did seem really nice, in their own way and maybe being in a place where singing was the main focus could be good for her.

"Right, so who thinks we should do original songs for Sectionals?"

Everyone groans because that's all Mr Schue has been speaking about. It wasn't for about another three months, so people weren't terribly worried.

"Sounds alright Mr Schue, even though we've done it before," Mercedes shrugs.

"Yeah, do you think that the judges will be bored of original songs?" Artie says, fiddling with his wheels.

Rachel was just enjoying listening to everyone. She didn't quite know each person yet, even though she started to speak to most of them because they all shared a variety of lessons. They were all different and unique in their own way and that's something that Rachel really appreciated.

"No, if we do something completely different it could be quite cool," Finn nods along, with a big grin on his face.

People didn't really agree, because they weren't exactly the best song writers around and they usually used the same sort of music but just changed the words; original songs weren't their strong point.

"Michael," Tina grinned.

Everyone looked at her with confused expressions.

One small brunette had stilled completely. Why were they saying her dad's name?

Quinn would have been looking at Tina if it wasn't for the fact that she heard Rachel take an intake of breath incredibly sharply. She looked over to the brunette and saw that the girl was sat straight in her chair and was looking forward with no readable expression on her face.

She was about to ask what was wrong but Tina began speaking again.

"Michael Jackson," she continued, "we should totally do Michael Jackson."

"Hell yes!" Artie started throwing his hand in the air.

"Now that's an idea!" Puck high fived Tina as she smiled shyly.

Mike lent in and gave her a huge kiss on the cheek because it was a great idea.

"Actually, that could work," Mr Schue smiled.

"Of course it could, my girl has amazing ideas when she wants to," Mercedes winked and gave Tina a sideways hug.

"ABC."

It was spoken so quietly that it wasn't really heard by everyone first time.

Quinn had a small smile starting to form on her lips because she knew who said it. The small brunette to her side was tucking her hair behind her ear and looking shyer than she ever had. The blonde wanted so badly to just hold the girl's hand or even just tell her it was okay, but she restrained herself.

"Did you say something Rachel?" Mr Schue addressed the brunette, giving the girl an encouraging smile.

"Um, ABC, you should all do Jackson 5's ABC," Rachel started, finally tucking all her hair over one shoulder and fiddling with the ends, "it could work really well as a group number; the girl's singing the main bits as the boy's do backup and then the choreography could work well with the boys and girls dancing together, every now and again breaking off into pairs and doing a dance routine."

No one spoke. Not because it was a bad idea, but because it was the most they had ever heard from Rachel in glee club, mainly because last time Mr Schue had made her mad that she didn't want to speak.

Rachel was starting to get a little nervous with that fact that no one was speaking. Had she overstepped the mark? Should she have just kept quiet seeing as she had never been a member of the club before?

Luckily, someone saved her from the awkwardness.

"I think it's a great idea," Quinn smiled from next to the brunette, "it could work well to get the crowd going and then we could have a slower song after it."

Santana was smiling from her spot next to Brittany. She was glad that Rachel was coming out of her shell in glee club; they could do with a new member, even if the girl didn't sing.

"Yeah, it's a dope idea," Santana chimed in, nodding along.

"Well, I think that's sorted then," Mr Schue grinned, "we'll be doing ABC as the first number. We can sort out other numbers in our upcoming sessions, but for now, how about we get down with something!"

Mr Schue motioned to the band as they hit the CD player on and started playing along.

The glee club members rolled their eyes at their teachers attempt at using 'youth language' but let it slide. Everyone recognised the song instantly and all started to get up off their seats to join in where they could.

"Ice ice baby."

As Tina, Mike and Brittany got up to do the first dance moves, Mr Schue went to drag up Santana, Finn, Puck and Quinn. As the blonde was being dragged from her seat, she quickly picked up Rachel's hand and pulled the girl with her.

"If I have to do this, so do you," Quinn quickly whispered into Rachel's ear as the music carried on playing in the background.

They all got into the line, as Mr Schue showed them the dance moves in front of them.

Rachel ducked her head, she wasn't a dancer but she did love to have fun. Sucking in some breath and shaking her paranoia away, she kicked her leg out twice and spun round, copying Mr Schue's exact dance moves, throwing her hands up for added effect.

Quinn was behind her doing the exact same, but managed to trip over her own feet during her first twist. It didn't bother her, it just made her laugh, which in turn made Rachel laugh which then made Santana laugh. As Mr Schue went on to drag up the rest of the club and add more dance moves in, Rachel and Quinn just enjoyed the company and went with the dance moves, even adding in some of their own.

"Word to your mother!"

Everyone clapped and cheered and Quinn gave Rachel a quick hug, which made Rachel duck her head and blush a little, even though she had no idea why.

Santana high fived the brunette and then Quinn, before clapping her hands to grab everyone's attention.

"Right ladies and gays, I shall now show you some real talent," she winks at everyone, before she clicks at the band and they start playing the song they rehearsed yesterday.

No one wanted to mention that she was actually in both of those categories she addressed them with.

She wasn't singing for any particular reason, she just wanted to sing.

"Well sometimes I go out by myself and I look across the water.
And I think of all the things, what you're doing and in my head I make a picture…"

Rachel's jaw dropped. Santana had an amazing voice. It was powerful and held this sort of spice to it, like it was made for singing. It could hit all the right notes and she sung it with such attitude that you couldn't do anything but watch and admire.

"'Cos since I've come on home, well my body's been a mess.
And I've missed your ginger hair and the way you like to dress.
Won't you come on over, stop making a fool out of me.
Why won't you come on over Valerie, Valerie?"

Santana had dragged Brittany and Mike to come down onto the floor and dance with her. Rachel was amazed that they all knew what they were meant to be doing and when. Mike and Brittany just flowed with the music and their dances moves were second to none and Santana's voice, well, that was a show all on its own.

As Santana hit the last note and bowed with Brittany and Mike flanking her sides, Rachel was the first one to stand up and clap her hands loudly, giving a little whistle. Everyone just watched on and couldn't help but find it kind of cute.

Quinn laughed at Rachel's antics and lightly started tugging on the brunette's arm to get her to sit back down again.

"She was amazing," Rachel gushed to the blonde.

"She does have one hell of a voice," Quinn agreed.

"Did you hear it? It was just so powerful," Rachel shook her head and smiled as Santana sat back down.

"Yeah, I heard it Rachel, I heard it," Quinn giggled at her friend.

The clock ticked over to five o'clock and Mr Schue stood up in front of the class.

"Well, it's been a lovely session today and I want to say a big thank you to Santana for her incredible performance of Valeria," Mr Schue grinned.

"You're welcome; I thought this club might need some real talent every now and again," Santana shrugged with a grin, as she slung her bag over one shoulder, holding Brittany's hand with her other arm.

"See you tomorrow guys!" Mr Schue smiled at his students as they all started to slowly file out of the choir room.

Santana, Brittany, Quinn and Rachel all met up round the blonde's locker as she exchanged some books. All four girls were a little high from the glee session; it had been really fun and a little escape from reality.

As Santana and Brittany were just about to say goodbye, Rachel had an idea which made sense in her head.

"Hey Santana? Why don't you just come back with us, I'm sure Justin won't mind having one more for dinner," Rachel suggested, but Quinn was a little confused.

"Um, why is Santana coming back to Stoneson?" the blonde asked, eyeing her friends.

"You live at Stoneson Rachel?" Brittany asked the small brunette, with a smile on her face.

Rachel hadn't really spoken to Brittany as much as the others, because the blonde was always glued to Santana's side, but she seemed nice. Plus, if Quinn knew and Santana knew, then she felt no harm in Brittany knowing where she lived. As Santana knows now, she was sure it wouldn't have been long before Brittany found out anyway.

"Yeah, been there for two weeks," Rachel smiled at the other blonde.

"It's okay there; I used to go round some times. Sally used to make me duck cupcakes," the blonde grinned, squeezing Santana's upper arm.

Rachel didn't know Brittany and Quinn had been that close to let Brittany go round Stoneson to see Quinn, but she let it slide. Also, did Brittany just say duck cupcakes?!

Rachel was looking appalled and a little sick at the idea. As if Santana could see Rachel's disgust and complete confusion she explained what the blonde had meant.

"She means cupcakes with little ducks iced onto them; Britt likes ducks," Santana said, squeezing her girlfriend's hand back.

"Oh," Rachel nodded, blood finally coming back to her head.

That made sense now.

"Anyway Brittany, yeah, I'm getting used to it now, I've met some lovely people," Rachel smiled back, eyeing Quinn momentarily before looking back at Santana and waiting for an answer.

"It makes sense, I won't have to make two trips," Santana shrugs with a nod.

"Again, why is Santana coming back to Stoneson?" Quinn asked once more, still confused.

"Oh, I'm going to be tutoring her for Math," Rachel smiled at her friend.

"Rachel! I don't want people to know," Santana hissed, rolling her eyes.

Rachel winced. Shit. She really hoped she hadn't just annoyed Santana even more; she really wanted to become her friend.

"Sorry," the brunette said with a small voice.

"I won't tell San, you know I won't," Quinn gave a reassuring smile to both of her friends.

Santana then turned to her girlfriend who was staring at a locker.

"Britt, you won't tell anyone?" she asked.

"Tell anyone what?" Brittany asked back, stroking the locker because it looked shiny.

"Doesn't matter babe," Santana laughed, kissing the blonde to distract her from the locker.

"Okay, get a room, let's go," Quinn joked, poking the two girls apart.

One again, Rachel found herself blushing at the intimate scene playing out in front of her.

"Y-yeah, let's go," Rachel scurried in front of the kissing girls and caught up with Quinn.

"Are they always like that?" the brunette asked, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"If you think that's bad, you should see them drunk," Quinn laughed, looking over her shoulder and smiling when she saw the kissing duo running to catch up with them.

"I don't think I want to," Rachel giggled.

As they made it to Quinn's car, Rachel slipped it the passenger's seat as Quinn got in behind the wheel. It was then another ten minutes as the loved-up pair outside the car said their goodbyes, even though they would be seeing each other tonight when Santana went home. Brittany got into her car, as Santana finally got in with Quinn and Rachel.

"Right Miss Berry, I'm ready for my lesson," Santana mocked from the back seat.

Rachel rolled her eyes with a grin, as she leant forward and turned up the radio before Quinn had the chance to.

They shared a knowing smile, before relaxing into the drive back home.

~O~X~O~X~O~X~O~

Justin had been thrilled to see Santana. She had always made the place more… lively. Rachel had gone up to her room to clean it a little after dinner so didn't hear Justin and Santana reminiscing about old times and Santana commenting about how much Stoneson had changed.

Rachel had been a little confused at dinner, when everyone had known Santana and talked to her about everything under the sun. Santana had seemed to fit right in. Rachel guessed the girl must have come round to visit Quinn a lot; that would explain it.

"My room is clean now Santana!" Rachel called from the top of the stairs before making her way back to her room.

"I've been called," Santana joked to Justin, as she left his office.

"Catch you later Sanny," Justin called from behind her.

Quinn had been chilling in the lobby reading a magazine, having been told by Rachel to keep Santana company so she wasn't on her own in the home; it wouldn't have been fair. Oh, how little Rachel knew.

"I still hate Justin calling me that," Santana said through gritted teeth.

Quinn got up to follow her friend up the stairs.

"He does it because he knows it pisses you off," Quinn laughed.

"And pisses me off it does," the brunette shook her head.

Reaching room 4B, Santana looked at the scratched-in room number and looked over her shoulder as Quinn went to enter her own room.

"I remember this room," Santana whispered to the blonde.

"I bet you do," Quinn smiled, "now, go learn some stuff!"

The blonde gave her a thumbs-up before slipping into her own room to complete some homework; fun, fun, fun!

Santana knocked on the familiar door and slipped in when Rachel called out that it was okay to come in.

"Nice room," Santana smiled.

"Thank you, haven't exactly made it mine yet, but I'm going too soon," Rachel smiled back, sitting at one end of the desk.

Santana scooted onto the other chair and looked down at the desk, sighing when she saw all the Math textbooks and colouring pens.

"Okay, let's get this over with," Santana grumbled.

"Well, if you're going to start with that attitude, it won't be fun," Rachel said defiantly.

"Math can't ever be fun," the other brunette laughed.

"Or can it?" Rachel grinned, holding up colouring pens and sparkly stickers.

"Oh god," Santana shoved her head into her hands.

~O~X~O~X~O~X~O~

It had been half an hour and now the duo were enveloped in silence as Rachel had got Santana to read through her Math textbook and find any equations or terminology that Santana deems relevant and then write them down in different colours; adding stickers if she finds it helpful.

Rachel was fiddling with her pen and looking around, occasionally looking at Santana and mentally noting how silky the girl's hair looked. It was so quiet that it gave Rachel ample time to think. Santana seemed like such a nice person and it was obvious that Quinn and Santana knew each other very well.

She deemed that half an hour of thorough Math work was okay, so she dropped her pen and spoke up.

"How long have you known Quinn?" Rachel asked, deciding to pick the pen up again and lightly chew the end.

Santana smiled to herself; she could tell this girl was going to be a silence-breaker. She tried to ignore Rachel's question and decided to continue with her Math work; she really needed to get her grades up.

Another five minutes passed and Rachel had practically chewed through the pen.

"Um, Santana? How long have you known Quinn?" Rachel tried again, genuinely interested.

Santana stops reading and looks at Rachel and clearly sees the interest and friendliness in her eyes. She puts her pen down and turns a little in her seat.

"I have known her since I was 11, we actually lived with each other for two years, before I moved out when I was 13 to go and live with Brittany," Santana said with a small smile.

"Where did you two live together?" Rachel asks, her eyebrows furrowing.

Rachel just assumed that Quinn came into Stoneson from a different home, or maybe from her family. The brunette realised she really didn't know the blonde at all.

Santana then smirked a little because this was going to shock the brunette. She let her smirk fade and said it while watching Rachel's reaction.

"Here at Stoneson."

Rachel is taken aback and her eyes go a little wide. She then scrunches up her nose, a little confused before she realises something.

"You're an orphan?" Rachel asks, feeling a little overwhelmed but she doesn't really know why.

She has met many orphans, she's met people that came into care at a young age like herself and she has met people that came into homes at an older age; but for some reason, she just really didn't think Santana was an orphan; she seemed too strong, but then again, you can't judge someone by how they act on the outside.

"All my life, well, since I was one," Santana nods back.

Rachel just lets the information sink in. She was now sort of seeing her friend in a new light. It would explain why Santana was so protective of Brittany; she didn't want to lose her.

Rachel was letting all the pieces of information fit together.

"Did you share a room with Quinn?" the brunette started to smile.

"Nope," Santana shook her head, "I lived right here in this room actually."

Rachel couldn't help but grin. The fact that they kind of shared a room in a weird sort of way made Rachel feel really happy, like the fact that Santana had also been in care brought them together.

As silence fell upon them again, while Santana went back to scanning her textbook and doodling on her paper, Rachel tried to work out the time gap and ages. She realised that Quinn must have been here since she was 11 as well, which seems quite a long time. So she decides to voice her thoughts.

"I didn't know Quinn had been here so long," she says quietly.

Santana looks up from her doodle of a rose and speaks to Rachel in a soft yet protective way.

"There's a lot you don't know about Quinn."

Rachel swallows thickly, suddenly feeling like she wanted to know every last detail about the blonde; she intrigued her to no end. Santana changes the subject by stopping her work and hopping up onto Rachel's bed.

"What're you doing?" Rachel asks, her eyebrows crinkled and a small curious smile graced her lips.

"Showing you something secret," Santana replies.

This immediately got Rachel's attention. The brunette jumped up on the bed to join Santana and they are soon facing the wall at the head of the bed. Rachel just stares at Santana before the taller brunette holds out her pinky. Rachel just stares at the finger.

"Umm, yes, your nail varnish is lovely, now why are we up here?" Rachel says as she studies the wall.

"No, this is a pinky promise," Santana laughs slightly.

"Oh," Rachel says, "I've never done one before."

"This is a secret that I don't want anyone at Stoneson to find, not because it's private but because it's special. Promise not to tell anyone?" Santana says, scanning Rachel's eyes for honesty.

Rachel promises with an intense look in her chocolate eyes and they shake pinkies.

Santana then nods her head resolutely and stands on her tip-toes and peels away the corner of the wallpaper to reveal some names scratched into the wood. Santana and Quinn's names are the biggest, but then a smaller Brittany is scratched just above Santana's name and a heart is scratched around their two names.

Santana sees Rachel studying it, as the girl puts her hand up to feel over the scratches. Santana watches and then feels like she should explain it.

"It was late one night and we had just spoken about me moving out to live with Brittany and we then basically had the same idea at the same time. So, I got on her shoulders and scratched my name into the wall and then she got on my shoulders and did the same."

Rachel is smiling broadly now and is fighting her emotions.

"It's beautiful," Rachel says, "but why is Brittany's there then?"

Santana laughs a little, enjoying the trip down memory lane.

"She got jealous once when she saw it as we forgot to put the wallpaper back up, so she added hers on there," Santana replies with a hearty smile on her lips.

Rachel smiles as she thought that it was incredibly cute. Then she felt something nudging her shoulder and looked down to see Santana holding a small pocket knife towards her. Rachel's eyes widened and shot up to Santana's face, but the other girl just rolled her eyes and pointed her head into the direction of the pulled back wallpaper.

"I think you've earned the right to be a part of it," Santana says warmly and with a small shrug.

Rachel's let's the little tears fall as she leans up, with the help of Santana holding her back and scratches her name just below Quinn's. The handwriting wasn't the best and she messed up her 'h', but it was the sentiment that counted.

As Santana slowly lowered Rachel back down, she saw that the brunette was full on crying but with a smile etched onto her lips.

"Rachel?" Santana asked worryingly.

"I've never really been a part of something before," Rachel smiled at Santana and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

"Well, this is something special and only close people are allowed in on it," Santana smiled back, putting her pocket knife back into her jeans, "that's what Brittany said once. Seeing as Quinn obviously really wants you as a friend and you seem pretty decent to me, it only seemed right that you were up there."

Rachel felt like she was going to burst with happiness. Why wasn't Quinn here so she could hug her?

"And being a part of something special makes you special right?" Rachel says, moving her hair out of her eyes.

"Yes it does," Santana nodded, pushing herself up to fold the wallpaper back over.

"Would it be awkward if I hugged you right now?" the sniffling brunette asked.

"A little, but what the hell, go for it," Santana said, pulling Rachel close and engaging the brunette in a friendly hug.

It didn't last long though, as Santana pulled away and sat back down on the chair near Rachel's desk.

"I've finished Miss!" Santana shouted from the desk, holding up her paper.

Rachel laughed her way over to her chair and they both ended up just chatting about Stoneson instead. Math tuition could wait.

A certain blonde was not-so-subtly pressing her ear up against Rachel's door. She felt a little left out because they were doing tuition together. She had listened to Santana's speech about the names in the wall and how Rachel thought that now she was up there, it made it special; the blonde had to silently wipe her tears away.

Rachel was right.

Being a part of something special makes you special.

Letting the 100-watt grin take over her face, Quinn walked back to her room; not wanting to interrupt Rachel and Santana's moment.