A/N: Well you guys didn't guilt me very much, but here's the third chapter ;). I did tell you I'd try to have it up in a few days so this is me delivering. Please review. I like this story and the ideas I have for it, but I'd like to know if you're enjoying it or not. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and alerted, you guys are awesome. For some reason it wouldn't center my lyrics on this one lol. No idea why. So, sorry about that .

Happiness hit her like a train on a track
Coming towards her stuck still no turning back
She hid around corners and she hid under beds

Brushing a hand through silky blonde locks, Quinn forced down the irritation that Rachel had managed to conjure and laughed somewhat awkwardly. She'd worked all those years to put that part of herself to rest, yet five minutes with the pint-sized star from her past and it rose all over again. The stone cold bitch of McKinley High. She'd never fully escape from it, but she could damn sure execute some sort of control over how she handled it from here on out.

"Well, you remember how they were in high school. Brittany was all for Santana, ready to take on hell itself to be with her." She smiled warmly at the memory it brought of the dopey-eyed cheerleader.

She'd missed her sincerity, an almost child-like innocence that only Brittany S. Pierce had been able to pull off, " They snuck around behind everyone's backs, being together whenever they could. The only time they hid it was around everyone else. S wasn't ready for anything more. She wasn't prepared to admit anything to herself, much less anyone else and deal with the consequences."

"Wait…Santana is gay?"

Suddenly a voice emitted from behind them, haughty and unbecoming but totally Santana, "So I like the ladies. You got a problem with that Berry?" There was a edge of irritation to her voice, which was usual, but there was also the faintest undertone of insecurity in the latina's voice that had Rachel stuttering for a proper response, " N-not at all. I-I merely was surprised at your choice of sexual preferences Santana. I didn't mean…"

Satana rolled her eyes and strolled forward, taking her previous seat, " Don't get your panties in a bunch, Berry. It's not exactly tomorrow's headline that I'd rather sex it up with a chick." The brunette couldn't decide how to respond to the confession and instead decided to remain silent. " As I was saying before our resident bitch here decided to make her presence known."

She killed it with kisses and from it she fled
With every bubble she sank with her drink
And washed it away down the kitchen sink

Santana merely grinned and winked at Quinn who glared at the latina, though she knew this conversation had to be wearing for her, "She was a chicken shit who couldn't admit her feelings." Holding up a hand when the latina burst from her seat she reminded, " I'm still your boss, so sit the fuck down and shut up." Santana huffed loudly but sat down, mumbling under her breath, "You better be glad you pay me well, bitch. Otherwise there'd be a revival of "The day Quinn Fabray fell from grace" right fucking here."

The photographer decided to ignore her, " So Brittany gave up, and started going out with Artie. By the way, are they still together?" Neither woman missed the sudden movement to their left, Santana now sitting forward in eager anticipation of the answer. The brunette answered simply, " No." There was a release of breath that came from the other side of them before Quinn continued with a nod, " Well, while B was with Artie, Santana finally got her head out of her ass and told her that she was in love with her."

Quinn stopped here, not wanting to embarrass Santana with the outcome of her words, but by this point Santana was seething and the incessant tap-tap-tap of her high heel broke the sudden silence, " What are you waiting for Fabray? Finish the damn story."

With an apologetic glance to her assistant, she continued, " So she told Brittany that she was in love with her, that she wanted to be with her." The singer seemed entranced with the story, caught between her desire to know the rest and her trepidation at having such information, she nodded to continue. Somehow she wasn't certain that a punch to the face was worth acquiring the final words, " She turned her down."

Instead of Quinn, the brunette turned to Santana, " But why?"

The latina was busy checking her nails for absent grime, pretending not to pay attention to the recap of the worst day of her life thus far, " She was in love with Wheels." Shrugging with a nonchalance she didn't feel, she added, " I was too late."

When she met the pitying gaze of the diva, it was as if a switch had been thrown and the walls that had kept everyone out in high school suddenly erupted once more, " Don't look at me like that RuPaul. Poor little Santana. Couldn't be top dog, couldn't get the girl she wanted. Don't fucking pity me. Every get a bitch-slapped by karma at one point or another, mine just came quicker than most."

Rachel just stared as the former head bitch of McKinley High brushed past her and out of the studio, an echoed, " Fuck!" resonating in her sensitive ears. She turned back to the blonde who looked as if she were moments away from following her. Something stirred inside of the diva, a protective side she didn't know she had and she asked quietly, " She's still not over her?" Why was she feeling defensive of the dark-haired latina? Maybe it was just the vulnerability she'd barely gotten a glance of before the façade slipped into place. Or was it even Santana she was looking to protect?

Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father
Run for your children, for your sisters and brothers
Leave all your love and your longing behind
You can't carry it with you if you want to survive

Quinn eyed the elevator doors for a few more seconds before sighing heavily and settling back into her seat. She seemed past her short years at that moment, tired, " No. She's not. Brittany was her first love. The one that got away. I don't think she'll ever get over her."

Clasping her hands delicately in her lap she allowed her gaze to rise and meet Rachel's, " After Brittany turned her down she became…loose. She slept with whoever and whenever she wanted. She was trying to get over having her heart broken, not that it's an excuse."

Rachel vaguely remembered the events of that year, right before sectionals. Santana had seemed withdrawn. Still her fiery, insulting self but something had been missing. Those incessant insults had simply lacked the heart to make them believable. She was loathe to recall that she just hadn't picked up on it before. " I should have noticed." It was an absent whisper, but the blonde heard, brows furrowing into a frown, " Why would you? We tormented you for years Rachel. It wasn't as if we were close enough for you to notice things like that."

Which wasn't true. The singer had noticed when she was pregnant and felt she had no one. She'd offered friendship, and Quinn had been so absorbed in her problems to see. " Rach."

Her head shot up at the nickname. Rachel, and now Rach….she couldn't decide who was sitting in front of her. A mature woman who'd put their past behind them, or the cheerleader who'd played on her emotions for years. " It wasn't your fault. I was supposed to be her best friend and I didn't see it."

An uncomfortable silence followed, both women not knowing quite what to say to the other, so Quinn decided it was best they got to business, " So, did your manager tell you what they requested for your photo shoot over the next few days?" Truthfully Rachel had no idea. She'd been too busy freaking out over seeing Quinn again, much less spending close to a week, everyday, with the woman. So she just shook her head.

" Well your producers for Wicked wanted to create a little more…appeal for the show, for you." She had to tread carefully with her words, knowing Rachel would be uncomfortable for most of the show's advisor Greg's suggestions. " What exactly are you presuming for appeal Quinn?" Releasing a quiet breath she stated bluntly, " They believe that creating more sex appeal for the star would be a benefit to sales. So they want me to convince you."

She was sure it would have been difficult to look disgusted, outraged, and yet intrigued all at the same time for anyone else, but somehow the tiny diva managed it. Quinn found herself focusing on the hands that Rachel had clenched in her lap. How she'd ever gotten away with calling her Man-Hands she'd never know. Rachel had dainty fingers, small and delicate. A small smile found its way to her lips at the knowledge, but before it fully formed she seemed to realize what she was doing.

And I never wanted anything from you
Except everything you had and what was left after that too, oh
Happiness hit her like a bullet in the back
Struck from a great height by someone who should know better than that

'Whoa…wait…was I just perving on Rachel Berry's hands?' Mentally slapping herself she sat back with a sudden wide-eyed look, " Quinn? What is it? Please don't tell me that their ideas were that bad. I find it hard to imagine myself posing even remotely sexy. Aren't you supposed to be preparing and settling me? You aren't doing a very thorough job."

The babbling pulled Quinn from her Berry induced reverie and she laughed, though it was somewhat forced, " I'm sorry Rachel, I was just thinking is all." Without waiting for her to ask, she went on quickly to divert attention, " And to answer your question, no. None of them are that bad. There were a few suggestions that I deemed inappropriate but the ones that have been chosen aren't that risqué at all. It will be more simulated and hinted at that just putting your body on display."

The silent, 'unless you want to' would be addressed later when she got the diva a bit more comfortable with the idea of being somewhat exposed in front of the camera.

The awkward pause went unnoticed by the diva who was now running all sorts of scenerios in that brain of hers, each one worse than the last, but somehow the blonde's words put her at ease. No small feat when it came to the over-extended imagination of the diva.

Settling once more back into her seat, she tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear, which did not go by the blonde who now seemed hyper aware of her every move. 'What the hell?' She mentally chastised herself and shook her head, " Anyway, we'll be going through at least one of them today, but I was told you have a matinee show this afternoon?" Rachel nodded absently, " We do matinees every Tuesday and Thursday so yes we will be performing this afternoon. I'll need to leave promptly at eleven so that I can arrive in plenty of time for hair and make-up and be ready and rehearsed for curtain at two."

Silently stowing that information away for later, " Of course. We should have you out of here in plenty of time for that. But you'll be back for another session tomorrow night about six. Rachel?" The brunette finally met her gaze, giving her the attention she sought with a light blush of embarrassment flagging her cheeks.

Satisfied that she was listening, she added with a smirk, " That means six sharp. There are no fashionably late entrances on my time." This urged a small smile from the diva, but before she could return a jest, the elevator doors opened and the booming voice of Santana interrupting, " Alright bitches. It's showtime so stop your sickening love-struck reunion and get to work," with a mysterious smirk.

Rachel once again blushed at the obvious implication that they'd been doing more than talking before she rose from her chair and asked almost too brightly, " So, where is my dressing room Ms. Fabray?" Why was she suddenly realizing the fullness of Quinn's lower lip as her tongue swiped across it? When she finally tore her gaze away, both women were now a bit uncomfortable.

"Right this way Ms. Berry." For some reason Quinn was pleased that Rachel seemed to be riveted to her previous movement before she stood, " Follow me." Both women seemed very aware of how close they were standing and made sure not to touch as they walked to a door that was adorned with the black letters 'Dressing Room'

"There you go. I'll give you a minute to get comfortable before I send in Hair and Make-up." Quinn's gaze lingered for a moment before she walked away.

Chocolate hues trailed over the curve of the woman's back and to her ass as she walked away before Rachel blinked and retreated to the dressing room, mumbling, " It's going to be a long day."

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
The horses are coming
So you better run