Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or Britney Spears.

Chapter 8

Quinn and Rachel spent the afternoon taking it easy; watching movies, playing cards with Rachel's dads, and listening to music. They were laughing and simply enjoying each other's company. From a distance, it'd seem that nothing had changed. But if you looked closer, you'd catch the subtle glances, the lingering touches, and the shy smiles. It was clear that they we well beyond just friends, they just hoped their friends weren't too observant.

As it was nearing time for bed, Rachel asked Quinn if she wanted a ride home or if she preferred to stay the night again.

"I would love to stay the night Rachel, but it will only blur the lines. After our date, when we are more comfortable as a couple. Is that too presumptuous? To say that we're a couple?"

Rachel grinned. "Quinn Fabray, will you be my girlfriend?"

Quinn beamed and wrapped her arms around the brunette. "Yes!" She was now finding it incredibly difficult to stick to her no kissing till their first date rule. Damn Rachel Berry for being so freaking charming!

When Quinn pulled away, she decided to finish with her previous thoughts. Why was she refusing to stay overnight again?

"Who cares if those lines are blurred, right?" She smiled at the diva. "If I stay overnight again, we are officially a couple, and…"

"And we're not kissing anyway…" Rachel teased as she bit her bottom lip seductively.

"Why'd I make that stupid rule again?"

Rachel giggled. She stepped closer to the blonde. "Because we're taking it slow, and we both want to get this right. And apparently that makes us old fashioned and you chivalrous."

Quinn stepped closer; they were mere inches apart now. Their toes were touching; they could practically breathe the same air. "And you deserve to be wooed, Rachel Barbara Berry."

Rachel's eyes were darting from Quinn's eyes to her mouth. The blonde licked her lips knowingly, causing the brunette's breathing to become shallow. "I'd say Quinn Fabray, you're well on your way to wooing me already."

The blonde smirked. "So is it decided? Am I staying over again?"

"You are welcome anytime Quinn, in fact, I'd prefer it." She replied with a smile.

When the girls were ready for bed that night, Rachel once again stood outside the guest bedroom with Quinn. "So…"

"So…"

It shouldn't be this awkward. They both wanted each other. They both badly wanted to kiss each other. So why were they now stuck with this annoying sexual tension?

Rachel giggled at the awkwardness of it. "Friday can't get here soon enough, can it?"

Quinn nodded with a genuine smile on her face, before she turned nervous. "We could go out tomorrow after school, if you want."

"Are you trying to get out of the big romantic date you have planned?" She asked playfully with a quirked eyebrow, but Quinn's eyes widened.

"You are expecting some big grand gesture, aren't you? I'm screwed!"

"Quinn." Rachel took the girl's trembling hand in hers, holding it securely in her warm hands. "Whatever we do, wherever we go, it'll be perfect because it'll be with you."

Quinn lifted her hand, bringing Rachel's hand to her lips and kissed it gently. She let her lips linger. "How could I never see how amazing you are?"

"We were both too distracted by a giant oaf named Finn Hudson." Rachel said honestly, making Quinn smile.

"Boy were we stupid."

They hugged goodnight and Rachel wished Quinn happy dreams. Quinn didn't have the heart to tell her that for a few days now her dreams were nothing but happy.

After climbing into their separate beds, and trying to fall asleep alone, Quinn wandered down the hall toward Rachel's room. She smiled to herself when she saw that the door was cracked open this time.

"Rachel?" She whispered as she stuck her head in.

The light beside the bed clicked on as Rachel moved once again to the left side of the bed. Quinn climbed in, clicked the light back off, and wrapped Rachel in her arms. It was beginning to feel natural to do so. It felt right. They fell asleep in each other's arms, not just feeling content but happy for the first time in a long time (or in Quinn's case, possibly ever).

They got ready for school in the morning, after waking up tangled in each other's arms. Rachel drove them to school, as they held each other's hands on the way.

"I could get used to this." Quinn replied over the quiet music playing in the car.

"What, having me as a chauffer?"

"No." Quinn held up their hands between them. "This."

Rachel smiled. "Me too."

"But we'll have to tone it down at school, you know."

"Oh, Quinn Fabray, are you sure you can keep your hands off of me?" Rachel teased.

"Honestly no. I was kind of hoping for your self control to get us through this."

"My self control? I have none Quinn! I make my dads tell me what they're getting me for Christmas so I can confirm or deny their choices. I make a list for my own birthday presents. I read the last chapter of books before I even start them, because I don't want to waste my time on something with a sad ending…"

Quinn looked scandalized with the last admission. "You read the last chapter first? Rachel, you are missing the intricate tale an author is trying to spin. Would you like someone to only listen to the last verse of a song?"

"What? No, that's crazy!" Rachel paused for a second. "I know you love books, but…"

"Would you mind me reading one aloud to you? I mean all the way through, without cheating."

Rachel looked at Quinn like that was the most romantic thing anyone had ever asked her, and perhaps it was. "Would you do that for me?"

"I would do anything for you, Rach." Quinn smiled.

"You pick the book, and I promise I'll do it. It sounds amazing actually." Rachel kissed Quinn's hand, then her cheek. "You're amazing."

"So about this self control thing?" Quinn asked again.

"I guess we'll both really have to try. Though, we've been pretty good so far, I've only wanted to jump you like twice…"

Quinn moaned involuntarily at hearing Rachel's admission.

When they got to school, they went their separate ways. They only shared two classes together and although this was a glee day, Quinn was grateful that Santana and Brittany weren't going to be there. They always seemed to see right through her. And speaking of Santana…

"What's with the cheesy grin, Q? Did you get some this weekend? I heard the midget dumped the giant but if you got back together with him and did the nasty, you'd definitely not be smiling right now. Please tell me you're scheming again. I always liked you best when you were all crazy ass bitch…"

"Santana, are you going to let me answer or keep rambling like Rachel does?"

The Latina shot her the most deadly glare she ever did, until her eyebrow quirked up and a dark smirk appeared on her face.

SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!

"Rachel huh? Not Berry? Not any other degrading names that you used to love calling her?"

"We've all grown up over the years, Santana. You even admitted that you don't mind the girl."

"Yeah, I don't mind her but I don't want to bang her either. Usually, there was that one time when she was dressed like Britney Spears…" She teased until she saw Quinn's face flush. "Oh. My. God! You want to get into Berry's pants. How could I not have seen this coming? Miss 'I'm not really into that.' Fuck."

"Really Santana, must you be so vulgar?" Quinn chastised.

"Yup, you're gone, Fabray. Does she at least like you back? I mean, she's single now…"

"Yes, she's single and we're dating."

"Wow, this is too good!"

"You can't tell anyone. She just broke up with Finn, and she didn't tell him about us yet."

"Tell him about who?" Brittany asked when she approached. "And who's he?"

Quinn rolled her eyes. If Brittany knew, then half the school would know. This so was not going according to plan.

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Kurt was waiting for Rachel by her locker. She slowed down as soon as she saw him. She did not want to deal with him now. "So, can you please explain to me why you dumped Finn so unceremoniously yesterday? As far as I knew, things were going well this time."

"Sure they were going well, but I don't want to settle for just going well. I want the fairytale, I want perfect."

Kurt chuckled playfully. "You broke up with someone you have loved for the last two years because it wasn't the fairytale you hoped it would be? Rachel, that's dramatic, even for you."

"He and I aren't right for each other, Kurt. I have dreams, I'm leaving Lima. I need someone who can keep up with me. Who can challenge me."

"But you knew all of that last spring when we went to New York, and you still chose to date Finn again. So what really changed Rachel?"

Rachel sighed. "Maybe I did. Maybe I've grown up and am over my school girl crush on the boy. Maybe I've moved on." As soon as she said it, she regretted it. But she couldn't take back the damage that was done. Kurt eyed her suspiciously.

She pulled him into an empty classroom. "I'll tell you everything, but you can't tell anybody. Not Mercedes, not even Blaine."

He was silent for several moments before he nodded his head.

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Quinn and Rachel shared third hour together, so Quinn met Rachel at her locker. "Santana and Brittany know." She whispered nervously.

Rachel bit her lip as she nodded solemnly. "So does Kurt."

Quinn's mouth dropped open. "Wow, we really suck at this covert thing."

"Uh huh." Rachel replied just as sullenly.

They walked to class in silence, but a little bit closer to each other than normal friends should. You know, if anyone were to have been watching them…