AN: So, this isn't the promised chapter 8 with the date... I will upload that a little later today, as promised. But this is a bonus scene, which, despite its importance, couldn't really be fit in with the official structure of the story. So it has become a bonus... It is from Quinn's point of view to try something different, and takes place just before chapter 8. Enjoy.

Bonus Chapter (1)

Quinn rubbed at her eyes irritably. The letters were sort of vibrating on the screen in front of her, and she could feel her eyes flexing in their attempt to make the words stand still. She really needed to get herself to the optician, this was getting out of hand. If only she could convince her pride that glasses were not a sign of weakness. It wouldn't happen today, though, because she really needed to finish this paper since it was do the next day. For some reason, not entirely clear to her, she had ended up on the graduate program in Cognitive Psychology at Yale, and she was really enjoying it, even if it meant still living on her own in a tiny little room.

Tapping her pen against the paper, she consulted her neatly printed notes. Her phone chirped from her coat pocket, but she ignored it in favour of slipping the pen between her teeth as she placed her fingers on the keys of her laptop for a second before they started flying over the black squares, clicking satisfactorily. The phone chirped a few more times over the following hour or so, but Quinn hardly noticed as she worked focusedly. She did hear it when it started to ring though, because it was programmed to play 'What a feeling' quite loudly. She flinched in her chair, making it skit backwards, before jumping up and rushing to her coat. She hardly registered Kurt's name on the screen before answering.

"Oh, finally!" Kurt's voice sounded relieved.

"Hey, Kurt, what's up?" Quinn decided to make a pit stop by the small fridge lodged into the corner beside the wardrobe. If she was taking a break anyway she might as well stuck up on energy at the same time.

"I need your help, like professionally." she pulled out a Yoplait, grabbed the box of müsli from on top of the fridge and a spoon from the tea mug used for utensils and settled herself on the bed before replying.

"You mean like a psycho-analysis type thing? I didn't think you like that sort of thing." she said as she peeled the lit of the yogurt.

"I don't! But I am also freaking out, so. I need to do something."

"Okay. Why are you freaking out?" she was sprinkling a fine layer of crispy cereal over the Yoplait already anticipating the treat.

"I have a date tonight," Quinn dropped the spoon into the tub, making cereal and yogurt spray to all sides. "And I really want to go, but I'm also terrified. Does that make sense?"

"Ehm, yeah, sure," Quinn said distractedly as she wiped at the spillage. "Sorry, yes, of course it makes sense Kurt. This is a huge step. It's completely okay to be terrified, most people are you know? One trick is to distract oneself from what's scary. Have you decided on what you're going to wear?" there was a beat of silence. Then Kurt's voice sounded, unimpressed: "I picked that out as soon as I got back, Quinn. That's the first thing I did."

"Right, of course."

"I have also been baking far too many cakes to be good for anything. - I even brought one to the office. And my place is sparkling. I am running out of distractions."

"Right. Ehm, maybe talking about it will help. Sort of focusing on the positives you know? Maybe tell me about the guy?"

"Okay. But you already sort of know him - Blaine? The guy from the wedding? He asked me out at the end of the night and I've been panicking since. You saw him. He's... Well, gorgeous."

"Blaine? Really, you're going out? That's really great though Kurt, I mean, the two of you really hit it of." Quinn felt a smile spread over her face. If she could just get Kurt to go on this date, maybe her friend would finally start coming back out of the shell he had been hiding in for the past four years.

"At the wedding yeah, but that's not the same thing!"

"No, maybe not. But think of it in this way: you already sort of know him; you know you get along and that he likes you. That is a really good start for a date, Kurt."

"Quinn, I don't think it's that simple."

"Okay, so we're going to try something different. Tell me what it is that's scaring you right now. What is it about tonight that makes you nervous." She shoved a spoonful of Yoplait in her mouth as she waited for his reply. He was obviously thinking through his answer and she knew to give him his time.

"I guess I'm scared he's going to regret. I wasn't exactly my usual self at the wedding. What if he thinks I'm a totally different person? What if he doesn't like what he finds? What if I can't be what he's looking for?"

"Is that really important though, Kurt? To be what he's looking for?"

"I don't know. Yeah? I mean. I want him to like me, Quinn."

"I know. You wouldn't be this worked up if you didn't." Quinn ate another spoonful, this time allowing herself to gather her thoughts. "Kurt, sweetie, this is a huge step. I get that, I really do, and I'm so proud of you for even contemplating it. And the way you and Blaine were together at the wedding, I think you have a legitimate shot here. I think he'd be really good for you. It wasn't just the wedding that made you act differently, and I think you know that."

"But?" Kurt asked, sounding resigned.

"No but, as such. Just my opinion." She hopped he could hear the smile in her voice. "I do have some advice as well, if you want it."

"That's sort of why I called."

"Okay, Smart Aleck, here you go. I think you need to stop thinking about this long term. I don't think this is just about him liking you back, but also about you liking him at all. That scares you, doesn't it? The thought of what comes next, if tonight actually goes well." a hesitant hum from the other end confirmed this, "So don't think about the next step. Not right now. Just focus on tonight. Just let yourself enjoy this, no attachments that you're not ready for. Tonight is just what? Dinner? With a hot guy who happens to have expressed an attraction to you. If that's all you want it to be, then that's all it'll be. If you want more, then great. If you don't then that's great to, because you did it. You pushed yourself that step further and that is amazing, okay. Just enjoy that."

"You make that sound very easy," Kurt commented dryly.

"I know, and it isn't. But sometimes deciding beforehand that something is going to be great makes that happen. It can be a good idea to set goals as well. Just something simple like I want to look sexy tonight, or I want to order something special, something new. And then let that be what the night is about instead of focusing on it being a date. You think you can do that?"

"I... Maybe?"

"I think you should promise me. We can make it one of your goals. - By the end of tonight you have to send me three things that you really liked about the evening. How does that sound?"

"This is not what I had in mind when I called you!"

"No, but it's what you've got. So, promise?"

"Yes, okay, fine. I promise to send you a text with three things I liked. I'm going to go and get ready now."

"Look hot! That always boost confidence." she was happy to hear a little laugh from her friend at that.

"I'll try my best. And Quinn? Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now go have fun!" She smiled and shook her head as the dial tone announced the end of the call. This, she had not expected, but she was very happy it had happened anyway.

The rest of the evening Quinn found herself constantly distracted from her paper. Half of the time she felt her thoughts wander to Kurt and his date. She really hoped he had a good time. She had meant it when she told him that whatever it lead to would be great, but she couldn't help hoping that it wouldn't be a onetime thing. It really could turn into something amazing for her friend it he would only let his guards down far enough to let a single person inside for a bit. It was wishful thinking, she knew, but the hope was still there.

It was nearing 11 o'clock when the much anticipated text finally ticked in. It turned out to be closer to a short novel than to a text, though it made a smile a mile wide spread over her face. "As promised, three things I liked about tonight:" it read. "1. The music-note bow tie Blaine wore. He looked very cute in it, and it made the whole thing less intimidating. (also, he didn't wear socks, which is another matter entirely.) 2. The spicy pumpkin Gnocchi with the mushroom sauce. I won't go into detail, but it was definitely a highlight of the night! and 3. The fact that I managed to gather up the nerve to ask him out on a second date. I did as you said and just tried to think of it as a dinner. And it really worked. We just talked for hours. I didn't want it to end. So I asked him out. It felt almost natural, if terrifying. Honourable mention: The kiss. I think you get why. Sleep tight!"

AN: The official chapter 8 will be up soon-ish. 'What a feeling' from the movie Flash Dance sung by Irene Cara.