A/N 1: Thanks for all of the reviews, alerts and favs as always. Only one more chapter after this one :-(

Rachel's POV

I can hardly contain the legion of butterflies in my stomach. Today is the day. It is the first day of school, the first day of senior year. And most importantly the first day of Quinn and I having our friendship tested by our peers. It had been different with the Gleeks as they are our family so when the two former 'enemies' of the group had become friends nobody really questioned it, they simply were grateful for there being less arguments within the group.

I nervously ran a hand through my hair as I tried to get it to sit perfectly. Quinn had told me that she would still be the same once we return to school but I can't help but wonder how she will feel after receiving a few slushies to the face just for being seen talking to me, let alone being friends with me.

Taking a deep breath to calm myself I square my shoulders determinedly. I can believe in Quinn, she is strong. If anyone gives her any trouble she will simply send them running with her HBIC glare and her cutting words.

I can definitely believe in her. Our friendship can survive anything, right?

The butterflies stir up something fierce as Quinn's car pulls up outside the house.

"Oh hush you." I mutter to my stomach as I head out of the house.

Quinn looks up at me as she is getting out of her car and her face lights up in a bright smile. She leans casually against the side of her car as I approach and I feel a stirring in my stomach for another reason entirely. This is how I want to always picture Quinn, the sun behind her lighting her hair into a halo, a warm smile brightening her already perfect features.

"Nervous?" She asks me softly as she takes my bag from me and puts it in her car. "You didn't even let me come to the door." She teases with twinkling eyes.

"Just don't want to be late." I lie anxiously.

"It will be fine Rach." Quinn assures me gently as she takes my hand in hers.

"I know." I smile falsely. Quinn gives me a concerned look but lets it slide for now.

Time will tell.

Quinn's POV

I shut off my engine and look up at the school with a sigh. Looking up at Rachel I give her a soft, sad smile as I see the same trepidation on her face that is currently twisting my own gut.

"I miss summer already." I confess softly as I gently brush some stray hair from her face.

"Me too." She says in the same sad tone, her eyes gazing into mine as though she will never see them again.

"We're going to be okay." I assure her in a strong, determined voice, my eyes holding hers to make sure that she would really hear the truth of my words. "You're my best friend and I love you okay? Nothing will change that." I promise her firmly as I lean in a press a quick reassuring kiss to her lips. Rachel smiles softly and then squares her shoulders, visibly feeling more assured.

"Okay?" I ask again softly as I search her eyes carefully.

"Yeah." Rachel nods, her smile brightening.

"Good." I grin back as I give her another quick peck on the lips as I squeeze her hand briefly. "Let's do this."

Quinn's POV

I am pathetic, well and truly pathetic.

After spending most of my time with Rachel over the summer being stuck in classes without her is proving to be tortuous. So far today we haven't had any lessons together and I am already seriously considering changing a few electives.

As the bell goes I end up walking in the opposite direction to that of my next lesson and instead head towards where Rachel has just had class. I know that the route I am going will take me twice as long and that I will probably end up being late but my need for a Rachel Berry fix is too strong to ignore.

I walk hurriedly through the corridors, my eyes sweeping over the sea of student bodies as they pass before I finally catch a glimpse of the tiny brunette. I can see the exact moment that she spots me as her face breaks into a bright smile before furrowing in confusion.

"Quinn? What are you doing here?"

"Can I walk you to class?" I ask with a hopeful smile.

"Sure but isn't your next lesson on the other side of school?" She asks with a puzzled frown.

"Umm..."

Crap I should have known she would have my timetable memorised already.

"Yeah." I admit sheepishly.

"Quinn you'll be late!" Rachel exclaims in dismay and I have to fight the urge to giggle at just how horrified she looks at the prospect of being late for a class.

"So I'll be late." I shrug.

"I will not have you being tardy on our first day back!" Rachel protests as she starts shooing me away.

"You know if you had just not argued then my being late wouldn't even be an issue so just let me walk you." I argue stubbornly.

"Fine." Rachel turns her nose up and struts off down the corridor. I stare after her incredulously for a moment before hurrying to catch up. I scurry beside Rachel the whole way to her class, shooting her side glances of disbelief as she purposely ignores me the whole way.

"Thank you for walking with me Quinn." Rachel says formally when we reach her classroom and I roll my eyes at her. I would give anything to kiss that smirk off of her face right now.

"I'll meet you by your locker at lunchtime?" I ask hopefully and Rachel finally breaks from her diva façade and smiles brightly at me as she squeezes my hand quickly before dropping it and quickly glancing around the deserted corridor. I purposely reach and hold her hand in mine as I smile affectionately at her.

"I'll see you later Rach." I promise before turning and sprinting towards my next lesson.

Quinn's POV

I pull Rachel into the toilets nearest to our lockers as lunchtime finally rolls round. I glare at the people already occupying the bathroom until they scurry away, muttering quick apologies as they go. Smirking at them I pull Rachel into the furthest stall and lock the door, smiling roguishly as I turn to face her.

"Quinn what are you doing?" She asks haughtily.

"Isn't it obvious?" I purr as I advance towards her and push her back against the stall wall, pressing my body against hers.

"Quinn Fabray!" Rachel exclaims in outrage. "I have already told you that I will not have sex with you on school grounds."

"Mmm," I grin as I nuzzle her neck and move up to her ear. "And I told you that I like a challenge." I husk as I ghost my lips over her ear.

"Quinn." Rachel starts to protest but moans softly as my lips suck gently on her neck. Not seeing any resistance I continue my ministrations with my tongue and lips on her neck as my hands work their way under her shirt, caressing and pinching her hardening nipples.

"Mmm, oh God." Rachel gasps as she bucks her hips into me. "We can't do this here." She says without conviction.

I gaze at her and take in her flushed face and hooded eyelids. I run my hand down and slip into her panties with a smug smile.

"It would seem that not all of you has the same conviction." I purr in her ear as I trail my fingers through the wetness that I find there.

"God Quinn." Rachel pants as she cants her hips against me.

"Do you want it?" I ask her in a thick, heavy voice as I trail my fingers in circles, purposely avoiding anything that will give Rachel any real relief. "Do you want me to fuck you Rachel?" I growl. "Do you want me to take you right here and now, make you scream my name for the whole school to hear?"

I know it makes Rachel crazy when I talk dirty to her so I know that I am not playing fair right now but as she shivers at my words and moans softly I cannot find it in myself to care.

"Do you want me inside you Rachel?" I purr one last time.

"Y... yes." Rachel moans as she rocks her hips as she desperately tries to shift my fingers to where she needs them.

"Tell me." I demand as I halt the movement of my fingers.

"God I want you Quinn." Rachel pants desperately.

"I want you too Rachel, you make me so wet." I growl before removing my hand from her panties and taking a step back. "It is too bad that you won't have sex with me on school grounds."

With that I smirk at her and leave the stall, leaving a dumbfounded Rachel in my wake.

Three, two, one...

"Quinn Fabray get back here now!"

I have only made it a few steps down the corridor when I hear Rachel's shrill, livid voice behind me. As it is lunch time there are a few students in the hall and they all stop suddenly and silently watch the drama that they are sure is about to unfold. Rachel and I do have a reputation in the past for having some epic verbal throwdowns after all.

I turn swiftly on my heel, setting my face into my patented HBIC glare. I quirk my eyebrow at her as I advance on her predatorily, like a lion stalking its prey. Rachel looks nervous for a moment as she glances around us as though one of the other students might butt in and rescue her.

"Nobody speaks to me that way Berry." I growl menacingly.

Rachel looks up at me with wide eyes but then clenches her jaw defiantly, meeting my fiery eyes with a burning gaze of her own.

God I want to kiss her.

We stare each other down, faces set in fierce determination until I suddenly can't hold it in any longer. My shoulders begin to shake slightly and then the laughter just bursts out of me. I throw an arm around Rachel's shoulder casually, ignoring the surprised eyebrow raises of the students around us.

"You were teasing me?" Rachel pouts as we start to walk down the corridor together.

"You love it when I tease you." I husk in her ear.

Glancing around to check that nobody was paying attention to us anymore Rachel suddenly grabs my hand and pulls me back into the girls' bathroom.

"What are you doing?" I giggle as she pulls me along determinedly.

"You are finishing what you started." She tells me with a growl as she pulls me back into the stall and locks the door behind us. As she pushes me against the wall with a fierce kiss I find myself smiling against her lips.

Maybe being back at school won't be so bad after all.

A/N 2: Wow Rachel, your "not at school" policy didn't last long did it? :-p Not that I blame her. If I were with Quinn I would be connected to her at the hands, lips or hips at all times too.