AN: Here we are once again. I hope I didn't leave you guys waiting for too long!

Don't forget that there's a poll for this fic. Check out my Author page for more info. To be honest I am leaning towards a pregnancy for Quinn but! That is tentative. I'm trying to flesh out the growth for these characters and the main reason for hers is the pregnancy. Still it's tentative I go back and forth.

AND right now the poll's tied so...

Anyways leave a review if you have any questions, comments or ideas even.

Chapter 4 – I'm the Perfect Stranger Who Knows You Too Well

Last Time on The Grass Is Greener:

Their faces were close enough to feel each other's heavy breaths. The spell was cast on both.

He closed his eyes and leaned in.

Their synchronous breathing was the only sound that rang out in the auditorium. Their hearts were the only sounds that they heard in that moment.

Their lips grazed lightly at first, tentative and explorative.

But then Quinn let her guard down, hands coming up to grasp the back of Ray's neck and pull him impossible close.

It was only when she heard her own moan of pleasure at the contact that she even realized what they were doing.

What was she doing?

"Woah there!" She yelled as she pushed him away and created as much distance between them as she could while she caught her breath.

Ray groaned at the loss but backed away quickly once the weight of their actions registered over the hormone overload.

"I- you- That, that was-" What had she done?

"-a mistake!" Ray finished in a panic. He continued after a moment, trying to keep from getting slapped, "I was merely appreciating the dramatic atmosphere that our performance created and lost myself in our respective roles. Nothing more. Please don't hit me. And if you do, not the nose!"

Quinn flinched then her brows furrowed in anger. She was supposed to say that it was a mistake. "What is wrong with you? You know that I have a boyfriend. A very large and popular boyfriend."

"Me?" He croaked, "Hey! It takes two to do that tongue tango!"

"You're the one that molested my mouth with yours, Pinocchio!" she accused angrily.

The nose, she just had to comment on the nose.

"IT WAS RESIDUAL EMOTIONAL AMBIENCE FROM THE SONG!"

She couldn't let this go. It was his fault; all his fault. She didn't want this. Quinn tried to recall the lyrics and frowned, "Oh really? What was the song about then?"

Ray blinked then blushed profusely. "…"

"I'm waiting." She sing-songed mockingly.

"The song was the musical manifestation of a bipolar and depressed mother's long-since deceased son who's addressing her need to confront and grieve his death."

"Unh-huh."

"I'm an artist. I'm allowed a little creative interpretation." He replied petulantly.

Quinn's smear-stained lips quirked up at his actions. He really was quite the character.

"That does explain why it was so dark. What did you get from the lyrics?" she inquired with a bit of curiosity. Secretly, Quinn Fabray loved dissecting poems, lyrics, books… trying to find a deeper meaning passed the surface.

"Just the lyrics?" At her nod, he continued, "It sounded to me like someone needed to accept the past. A tragic one but one that needs to be overcome. Mourning, celebrating or whatever they needed to do. If someone ignores their past it'll have consequences."

"What the hell do you know about that, Berry? You're a waking douse of cheesy sunshine."

Ray sat down, exhaustion filling him up; partly from the performance and partly from the memories. "I've been doing it for a year. Hiding from a past that terrifies me. Transferring back here is a way for me to confront it."

"Back?" Quinn wondered out loud. "But I've never seen you here before."

"I was supposed to start high school at McKinley for freshman year. I moved in with my mother before school started and ended up in a different district."

She was going to ask why but held her tongue when she saw a familiar haunting shadow cross Ray's face.

He stood up, hunched back straightening as he got closer to Quinn again, "As terrified as I am to be here, that dance that we shared sort of made it worth while."

Quinn wondered if he was like her. For the first time since Quinn became 'Quinn,' she wondered what this loser's story was. Quinn hated that she wondered.

Quinn Fabray was at the top of the ladder and she couldn't stay there by thinking about somebody that embodied her past so completely while still keeping his head up high. Lucy couldn't do that. Why should he?

"Look, let's just pretend this never happened." Quinn started, "I ignore you... and you, you stay away from me. Far, far away."

Ray stood up to protest but the sharp look that Quinn gave him cut him down before he got a word out.

"I- Alright." He stepped forward despite his survival instincts telling him otherwise.

Quinn tensed as he grasped her hand, just like he did when they first met.

"You're quite adept at dancing, Quinn. Really talented." Ray quirked up a smile. His height barely reached hers, making him look up a bit. "I should know, I'm quite talented myself."

His modest praise sounded like a little like a goodbye and Quinn felt there was no harm in letting herself laugh this time… if she wasn't going talk to him ever again that is.

"It was a pleasure dancing with you, Quinn Fabray. See you in the funny pages, I suppose."

He shook the hand he held in his own then left.

It was only when the echo of the auditorium door rang out that she realized that he didn't leave a kiss on her hand this time.

The New Directions.

Not quite as intimidating as Vocal Adrenalin but the sheer underdog, hope-filled feel to the name gave it some sympathy points.

His impromptu performance with Quinn left him out of sorts. The girl had a gaze with x-ray properties. And even though they said bid each other as well as any chance at friendship (or more, Ray thought morosely), Ray couldn't stop thinking about her. If Puck's bored look every time they hung out told him anything, Ray wouldn't stop talking about her either. Santana just laughed at the utter hopelessness of his infatuation and Brittany offered to get him a collar.

However, Ray didn't want to dwell on Quinn's rejection. It was counter-productive to his goals here at McKinley. Especially now that glee club, no, New Directions was back on track.

Which was what brought him here: around the corner from where the New Directions signup sheet was located.

Usually Ray would be the first to sign up for the glee club with a star-shaped signature but today he decided to measure out the competition… his future teammates.

Who exactly at this school wanted to share the stage with him, and would their presence meet his expectations?

He would, of course, later sneak into the auditorium in order to assess their vocal capabilities.

First to sign up was an ostentatiously fashioned young man that sort of reminded Ray of one of the infamous Van-Tropp children. Or some sort of European milkmaid.

Countertenor, definitely. Also the driven strut that was exhibited when the boy closed in on the list meant there might also be some competition for the spotlight.

Ray scoffed; he was raised by two very sassy gay dads and survived a year in Vocal Adrenaline with the most vicious musical theatre hopefuls.

He could deal with this little goatherd should he get too snooty.

The next person to come up was a girl with almost as much attitude in her step she had in her hair and style. She didn't meet the size limitations that VA enforced but Ray never considered somebody's body image to hinder their talent. As long as she worked for her place in glee, Ray wouldn't have a problem.

"Dude, what the hell are you doing?"

Ray jumped from his carefully planned hideout at the sound of Noah's voice. "By the Brooks! Noah, you know you should never sneak up on me when I'm in surveillance mode!"

"Okay, I know that Streisand chick is nowhere near here and Quinn Fabray is in class." Puck raised an eyebrow, in suspicion this time rather than his usual bad-boy one, "So who the hell are you stalking?"

Cheeks reddened and Ray pushed Noah in frustration. "I told you Barbra Streisand will never be just some chick, she is the best that Broadway has to offer and deserves more than that silly title. She is a goddess and a- I don't want to stalk Quinn Fabray."

Puck laughed, "Right, that's why you couldn't stop talking about that pretty blonde cheerleader and asking me questions about her life story the last couple of days."

"Yes, well." Ray blushed, "She's incredibly rude and dismissive-"

"And you totally have the hots for her. Whatever. Dude, you're going to get a restraining order put out on you if you keep this freaky stalker shit up."

"I'm merely surveying. I need to know who's going to be my backup for glee."

Puck laughed in disbelief before putting an arm around Ray's shoulder and leading the crazy boy away from the signup sheet. "Bro, are you really judging them now? You haven't even heard them sing!"

"It's not their aesthetics. It's their attitude. If you don't have the appropriate show choir attitude than you will never make it."

"You have problems."

Ray laughed, shrugging off Puck's arm. "Of course I do, that doesn't mean I don't, as you would put it so eloquently, 'know my shit.'"

"Why JewBro," Puck started, wiping a fake tear from his eye, "I'm so proud. Your growing aptitude for my vocabulary is simply… grand!"

"And the fact that you used aptitude and vocabulary in a sentence to mock mine makes me very weary and wondering what kind of drugs you're on."

"Shhhh," Noah chuckled (because badasses don't giggle), "Maybbbeee I got a little weed from the tonic lady. Just a little bit though. You want a hit? Would probably loosen you up and make you all non-stalker-y."

"Thanks but no thanks. It could have disastrous effects on my voice."

The bell rang making the giggly (but so not giggly) Noah Puckerman jump startlingly.

"Dude, the bells are ringing. What does it MEAN?"

Ray grabbed the other boy's shoulder and shoved him in the other direction. "It means you have to get to Math class and I need to get to AP English."

"Oh," Noah then scrunched up his face and started snapping his fingers in the air, trying to remember something, "Oh yeah! Quinn's in that class! That- that class you gotta go to, cause she's in it! You talked about that for like hours the other day."

"So you were listening?"

"Fuck you. Get to your class with Quinnie. And actually talk to her, dude. You might be surprised. If anybody could be crazy and stubborn enough to crack the Ice Quinn, it's you."

Ray smiled, "Thanks Noah, I forgot how much more insightful you can be when under the influence." He then crossed his arms expectantly, "You better get to yours as well, Noah."

He got a weak wave in return but Ray didn't want to be tardy so he left promptly leaving Puck smirking.

"Pfft, like I go to math."

"Okay guys. Now that you've settled into your classes, we're going to move on to our year long project!"

The teacher smirked at the mumbles and groans rang out in response.

Quinn sat in the back of the room armed with her signature bitchfaced scowl but on the inside she was giddy. English was her favourite class and she had this particular teacher for English in freshman year. The reading list was going to be great. Unfortunately as it was an AP course, none of her friends were taking the class. Of course, save for Santana, none of her friends would ever be able to take this class with their subpar grades. The head cheerleader would have been pissed at the girl for not signing up for AP courses other than math but Santana would never leave Brittany alone.

She glowered finally noticing Ray looking back at her from the front of the classroom. He was sitting with a girl that was practically hanging from his arm. Sally Peppers or something. Why was he looking so desperately in her direction? He was supposed to stay away (and Quinn was supposed to be ignoring him). She grew more and more irritated at the sight. Not willing to admit that it was Peppers' unrelenting advances towards Ray that was bothering her more than his unyielding gaze.

"…So have you all chosen your partners for the project yet? Five minutes left guys."

Wait, what?

Quinn spun around and found that all the kids have switched places. She scanned to see who was left and was left dismayed by the loser leftovers.

"Quinn Fabray…" Ugh, she knew that snivelling voice. Jewfro. "What a coincidence. I'm without a partner; you're without a partner. Some might even say it's serendipitous. Fate."

She took one look at his disgusting attempt at suavity and frowned utterly unimpressed. "Go away JewFro, before I get Santana in here to kick your ass."

"Wanky." His eyes glazed over at the fantasies that filled his head, "You going to join in too, Partner? Threesomes are hot."

There has to be someone else, Quinn thought desperately as Jacob Ben Israel inched closer and closer breaching her personal bubble. Anyone else.

Suddenly, someone pushed the offending fro away from her and the dank stench of creep-o-zoid was no longer under her nose. Thank God.

"I'm afraid Ms. Fabray already has a partner, Jacob." Ray smoothly interjected as he placed himself between the two of them. "Sorry I'm late, Quinn. Had to ask the teacher some questions."

Quinn sighed in relief for a moment before fixing her head-bitch glare at JewFro. "Go away now, Jewfro."

While the room felt a chill at the Queen-Bee's change in demeanour Jacob Ben Israel rarely stepped down upon first threat. His survival instincts were off on that note.

"Wait a minute," he started suspiciously, "I never saw you two even talk to each other after we were told to find partners."

Quinn could feel herself panic again.

"She texted me!" Ray replied again. "Being the newest addition to this institution, Quinn was kind enough to exchange contact info should I have any inquiries or troubles getting around."

"That's right," Quinn continued, going along with the little lie. "As head Cheerio it's up to me to be an ambassador at this school and to help lost little loser- err… students like Ray Berry so that they would be able to adjust well and have a memorable time here at McKinley."

She grasped Ray's arm in camaraderie, ignoring his reddening face in her peripheral while hoping that her own wasn't giving anything away. Jacob's eyes squinted in suspicion again because that head Cheerio bullshit was just that, but before he could dig any deeper, the teacher announced that time was up and that everyone was to sit down with their partners. With a defeated groan, he went back to his seat.

Quinn relaxed in her seat until she felt the familiar warmth from Ray's gentle gaze. It was comfortable. The way she could look into his eyes and know that she found some sort of connection. It was unnerving. Unnervingly comfortable… The nerve of that boy.

And as she turned to face the smiling brunet she found his overwhelming confidence and gentleness downright annoying. Who did this guy think he was? He was a loser, nothing but a loser.

Why was he smiling? Quinn looked down to see that her hand went from grasping his arm to holding his hand and she let go actin as if she was electrocuted.

"So all of a sudden we're bosom buddies?" she sneered, "What the hell were you thinking, Berry? I just told you to stay away from me the other day."

The extra bite in her tone caused Ray to jump back. "Nothing! I just thought you needed an escape plan."

"I don't need saving from a nobody like you!" she hissed.

Ray pouted a little and Quinn berated herself for thinking that the look was cute.

"I'm not a nobody," he mumbled.

Quinn narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me?"

"I'M NOT A NOBODY! And I totally just saved your ass." Ray looked to be as taken back from his outburst as Quinn. "I-I mean excuse the language… I don't make it a habit to curse, it's vulgar and a rather barbaric and layman method of expressing oneself. Still… the sentiment still stands."

Instead of reverting back to Quinn's usually icy demeanour, she smiled coquettishly in response. "Surprise, surprise, you do have a spine."

"You're rather infuriating, you know that right?" Ray stared at her with interest, wondering what makes this seemingly bipolar girl decide when to retract or let out her claws.

"And you're not doing a good job of staying out of my way and not annoying me."

"You're stubborn and confrontational and I feel like I'm approaching a dangerous wild animal, a lion or something, whenever we cross paths." Ray's case of word vomit did nothing but make Quinn's eyebrow rise to even newer heights of 'not impressed.'

Lips quirked up once more forming a gentle smile on Ray's face, "But you're also the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. And from the moment we met, I knew that you had an old soul and emotional depths to your heart that I can't even begin imagine… Making you so much more than just beautiful."

"Berry, I-" What could Quinn say? It was obvious to her that Ray was smitten and she couldn't have that. She couldn't have that slight twittering in her heart either.

"I just want to be your friend, Quinn." Ray shrugged helplessly. "I already know there's no chance for anything else."

There was a moment of awkward silence as Quinn digested the conversation. There's a thin line between love and hate. She never before put much thought into the phrase but it seemed so appropriate. He represented everything she let go of and she abhorred him for it but it was so easy to get caught on the other side. And that couldn't happen.

They were in a moment but it was just a moment that they could afford to share, nothing more. Nevertheless the pull was stronger than she ever felt before.

That wasn't a good sign.

"We can't be friends, Ray." She said solemnly making him deflate in dejection and breaking her heart even more at the sight. Since when could one boy have such a power over her?

Quinn took a breath before extending her hand to him. "But we can be partners… if you want?"

His toothy grin came back with a vengeance and he shook the proffered hand with joy-filled gusto. "I'd really, really like that."

They settled in to their assignments shortly after, discussing with ease about the variety of books, poems and sonnets that they could review, analyze and present over the year. They talked back and forth, broaching several different mediums and theories. Ray was no Derrida but he brought a refreshing enthusiasm for analyzing the more tragic literature forms that Quinn most definitely liked.

When the bell rang, Ray stood up and gave Quinn another surprisingly disarming smile, "This will be an interesting year won't it, Quinn?"

Quinn nodded and followed him out. Interesting was one way to put it.

Maybe Finn Hudson was at the top as the star quarterback of a defunct football team in NoOneCares, Ohio. He enjoyed the benefits. The teachers would pass him (barely), the other kids looked up to him (were scared shitless), and of course he got to get through high school without so much as a slushee stain (unless, you know he spilled on himself). But he knew that stardom was only because of one person. Quinn Fabray.

CHEERLEADER Quinn Fabray and (much to Finn's disappointment) president of the celibacy club Quinn Fabray.

Besides becoming quarterback, getting Quinn Fabray to go on a date with him was one of the best moments of his high school career. She never gave anyone the time of day but she agreed to date him. Him. Of all people. Not Noah Puckerman, not Rick Nelson, not Dave Karofsky. Him. Finn. Hudson.

That kind of thing can make a guy feel pretty special in a humdrum, hopeless town. Even if he doesn't get any.

No, Quinn Fabray never gave a guy the time of day… until this kid came along.

Ray Berry seemed harmless. A total loser right from the get-go.

But Quinn wanted him doused in the slush, an act that would mark him for the rest of his high school life. More importantly, Quinn wanted Finn to do it.

Of course Finn had his reservations. Even in the toxic environment they were in, Finn never wanted to be that total jerk of a guy. He also didn't go against the jerks but that didn't mean he was one. Right?

He waited outside Quinn's class, disappointed that the only class they shared was Spanish with Schue. But Quinn was kind of smart so she got the briany classes while Finn got to goof off with his buds. Poor Quinn.

That was what he thought until he saw Quinn come out of the room laughing. Like actual full out laughter. Not the mean kind she'd break out when she was putting someone down. Weird.

She was really pretty when she did that.

Finn's only problem was the guy that was making her laugh. Berry. White hot jealousy predictably followed and Finn clenched his fists.

"Quinn!" he called out, waving. He was left feeling a little dismayed when that careless laughter stopped in its tracks when she saw him. She even looked back at that Berry kid before heading his way.

"Finn, what are you doing here?"

Finn shrugged and broke out the dimpled smile, "We've got Spanish next remember?"

"Right," Quinn said unenthusiastically before shoving her books in his arms. "Hold my books."

The crowded hallway parted for the golden couple, Ray observed morosely from the doorway where Quinn had left him. She was definitely out of his orbit but Ray Redford Berry, the old Ray Redford Berry, wouldn't have given up without a fight. He gave up at Carmel but this was his chance to prove he was still himself.

"Hey, Quinn!" Gathering up his courage, he called out to her as he ran to the retreating couple.

"What, Berry?" She said in annoyance, her shy smile belaying her true tone.

"Call you later about the English project, Partner?" he smiled gleefully before departing in the other direction.

Finn didn't know what just happened. He only knew that he didn't like it.

And then when he sneaked a look down at his girlfriend's unusual genuinely smiling face, he understood.

Time for the first unofficial football team meeting. He needed the others for his plan.

Taking out his cell phone, he sent off a mass text.

slushie attack aftr school. break out the big guns 4 this.