Apologies for the delay - loads of excuses but none of them interesting. Massive thanks to Eyghon for being such a star and cheers to 01shane01 for the possibly misplaced faith. This chapter comes with a slightly longer than my usual offerings warning
As Kurt paced the Grand Central Station concourse cursing Quinn's inability to do something as simple as catch the right train, Rachel was applying the finishing touches to her understated make up. She'd decided to change at NYADA so that she'd have an everyday outfit to change into next morning if her attempted seduction of Cassie should prove successful. Rachel smiled at herself in the mirror – was it still called a seduction if both parties were willing participants? Realistically they'd still need to be careful in front of everyone else but in reality Cassie's employment was finally ending so beyond being seen as unduly hasty there was actually no practical reason to be apart – appearances be damned. She just needed to convince Cassie of that fact. Rachel adjusted her cleavage and tried a flirtatious licking of her lips. Hmmmm, maybe not. Given the raw materials she'd started with this was as sexy as she could make herself. The dress was suitably demure for the upper half, short sleeved with a gently curving neckline that hinted at the possible existence of breasts however its length – or rather lack of it - was where the 'wow-factor' as Kurt called it came into play. The hemline was just about low enough to cover her rather skimpy Cassie-selected underwear but any sitting down would need to be in a side saddle fashion unless she wished to display her new risqué lingerie to all and sundry. In the unlikely event she dropped the microphone during her performance it would have to stay dropped. The plus side though was that in these heels and with this hemline her major assets – her long shapely tanned legs – were displayed to perfection. Not being able to be seated was worth the sacrifice, besides she didn't intend to do any sitting down unless it was to straddle Cassie in the privacy of the blonde's own apartment. She took a calming breath. She definitely needed to focus on her performance and keeping her excited and lurid imagination in check.
Cassie spent the entire cab journey to NYADA trying to tone down her brother's expectations of the evening. She wasn't the most popular member of staff – in fact a long way from it – so he needed to be prepared for a rather empty hall and… Paul had cut her off with a big grin and a hand wave. He had merely jumped at the opportunity to meet Rachel and the less people present the greater the opportunity for him to warn Rachel of the error of her ways. Cassie was unamused. An unrepentant Paul merely teased her about how serious things must be if she couldn't take a bit of joshing. Cassie rolled her eyes at him and chose to focus her attention out of the cab window. She was a whirlpool of emotions. Excitement warred with fear and trepidation. Nothing was settled, everything was uncertain from employment to her fledgling relationship. Cassie had been counting down with anticipation to today with the knowledge that she would no longer need to fear discovery of whatever it was she had with Rachel but now that the moment was approaching she was beginning to be paralysed by doubt. Maybe she wouldn't be quite such an attraction for Rachel when her prestigious NYADA teacher status was removed. Once she was working all hours to make the dance instructor job work and Rachel's peers were busy being young, carefree and going out to express this freedom, would Rachel realise she'd settled for much less than she deserved? Paul's hand on hers interrupted her dreary thoughts and she turned her head to meet his concerned expression.
"If you say something allegedly inspirational like Carpe Diem I'm going to be forced to Google Latin profanities," she warned him.
He held his hands up in mock surrender, "Nothing uplifting or motivational I promise," Paul grinned at her, "although I can help on the Latin profanity front if that's what tickles Rachel's fancy and speaking of tickling Rachel's fancy…"
The rest of that sentence was cut off by a rather forceful slap although the fact Cassie suddenly couldn't contain her laughter rather lessened the pain of the blow. She was still laughing as the cab dropped them off so her protests at him paying for the cab ride were merely tokenistic.
"Paul," started Cassie, her tone suddenly serious as her gaze moved from the building to focus on him.
"Trust me," he said just as seriously back. She eyed him carefully before nodding almost imperceptibly and turning for the entrance.
"Cassie," he called. She stopped and turned to look at him. He held out his arm, "Could I have the honour? You look absolutely stunning."
He placed his finger on her lips to silence her protest at the compliment, "Just accept it, you're a beautiful woman and she's lucky to have you."
He watched unexpected tears form in his sister's eyes and his heart clenched at her fragility.
"Well when I say have you, I suppose technically that isn't yet entirely accurate," he mused only for Cassie to growl his name warningly. A quick hug and they were on their way.
Rachel made her way to the auditorium only now beginning to wonder where Kurt might be. After being under virtual house arrest all week and only allowed out with a Kurt escort it was a bit odd to find herself Kurt and Stefan-free. Carmen bustled over to greet her almost as soon as she entered the room. Chairs and tables were set out around the edge of the room with drinks on one side and finger food laid out on the other. Carmen consulted the list in her hand and checked Rachel had everything she needed for her performance before rushing off to talk to a group of people Rachel didn't recognise. She made her way to the drinks table and chose an apple juice. The room was steadily filling up, current students congregating together as staff mingled with people Rachel assumed were past students. There was already a hubbub of acoustically perfectly projected noise. Lydia joined her by the drinks and encouraged her back to where her peers were gathered around two tables trying to spot famous NYADA graduates. The pursing of the lips of her fellow female students was the subtle indication she needed that this was an outfit that made her look good. She sipped her juice, tuned out the conversation around her - particularly all the comments directed her way about her amazing top but hadn't she forgotten her skirt? - and tried to surreptitiously watch the doors from where she stood. Surely Cassie should be arriving soon? The thought alone was enough to have her heart rate accelerating.
Cassie was surprised that the room was busy enough to make spotting Rachel a bit of a challenge, although Carmen's need to introduce her to absolutely everyone was hardly helping. The turnout was much larger than she expected but maybe the offer of free food and drinks would always prove enough to lure unemployed starving would-be performers from their cold damp cramped garrets. Some faces she recognised instantly some had a vaguely familiar air about them and others were a complete mystery; she greeted them all with the same polite smile. For some reason the faces and names of her first ever class were seared into her brain and a few had even managed to make a living in the fickle world of entertainment although not all as performers. There was an impromptu gathering around her and soon she was trying to smile rather than wince as her long ago ex-students recalled particularly choice criticisms she had levelled at them in her bid to toughen them up for the world of showbiz. As they then moved on to compare and contrast her efforts with particularly scathing reviews and cutting comments from auditions they'd received she realised that she had indeed helped prepare them for the knocks even if bitter resentment had been her original motivation. As Paul left in search of liquid refreshment a bronzed chiselled handsome man, well aware of his own high level of attractiveness strode over to join them and the group around her began drifting away with some eyerolling aimed in the direction of her new companion.
"Cassie," he murmured as he grasped her hand and raised it to his lips, "You're looking as delightful as ever."
He held her hand for slightly longer than necessary before oozing charm and relating what a talented inspiration she had been for him. She eyed him sceptically as he paused in his praise of her to allow her to speak and return the effusive comments. Was it plastic surgery or the overuse of steroids that was making him so unfamiliar? He was clearly expecting her to remember him. She fought back her natural cynicism and wariness aiming instead for politeness even if she couldn't quite bring herself to mutter inane pleasantries.
"I'm sorry am I supposed to know you?" she finally asked not too impressed with how this man encroached on her personal space and blocked her view of where she thought her current students and thus where Rachel might be seated. His aftershave was either over powering or he was too close - possibly both.
"Ahh Cassie, always the joker," responded the bronzed Adonis with a dazzling white-toothed smile. His face skipped along the edges of her memory until suddenly it came to her. He had an extremely small part in some cop show - CSI Hicksville, Law and Order ad infinitum, wasn't he the tough looking monosyllabic eye candy character with a heart of gold?
"So enjoying life on the small screen?" she asked trying to disguise her total lack of interest in his answer. His self-preening occupied him sufficiently to miss her nuanced tone. In the time it took for her unwelcome companion to puff out his chest she had spotted Tyrone and Julian - surely Rachel had to be somewhere near them? Unfortunately the man in front of her wasn't self-absorbed enough to not notice her distraction.
"Well Cassie," he drawled as he swung an over familiar arm round her shoulders to focus her attention on him, her preoccupation with locating Rachel meant she was ill-prepared for the manoeuvre, "busy, busy, busy and then of course there's all my fans to keep happy. Would you like me to sign something for you?" His eyes slid to her cleavage and she felt her skin crawl.
Cassie attempted to slip from under his arm but his grip was firm and unrelenting. Normally she'd have made a scene by this point but she was sure Carmen would never forgive her if she had to be thrown out of her own farewell party. Gossip sites would have a field day about bitter Broadway failure kneeing handsome future A-lister in the groin in an alleged fit of envy.
"Do you mind?" Cassie maintained her polite tone even as she fixed her unwelcome companion with a less than friendly gaze.
"Not in the slightest. We really should go out some time and catch up," added the oblivious hunk as he leaned closer to add quietly and no doubt what he thought of as rather winningly, "You're still a looker even after all these years."
Cassie snorted with disbelief even as an "I could show you a really good time," followed hot on the heels of the previous remark. Why this man's on screen character had very few words became patently apparent with every smarmy word.
She spun out suddenly from under the arm that had been weighing her shoulders down and responded with an "I seriously doubt that," even as her brain raced with quite what physical injury she would in an ideal world inflict on him.
"Feisty women are my thing," he drawled as his smile widened.
"Mine too," she snapped back, pleased to see a slight flicker of doubt in the impossibly blue eyes.
"Listen Tony, Tom, Todd, Tim or whoever," she waved away his attempt to interject his correct name, " believe me you're really not my type," she allowed the words to slowly sink in, "I'd like to say I'm flattered," she ground out between clenched teeth " but really I'm not and..."
It wasn't necessary for her to finish the sentence as the no longer smiling fake-tanned hulk was already striding away to find a more receptive audience to his charms. He wouldn't be crossing 'former teacher' off his wish list with her today, or ever.
Cassie sighed with relief even as Paul rejoined her.
"Fat lot of use you are," she scolded him and then observing his drink-free hands she added, "I thought you'd gone to fetch us a drink."
"Yes well I had to intercept a brunette ballistic missile about so high," Paul paused to indicate a level just above his waist, "headed on an intercept course for you and your unwelcome admirer. It took an apple juice and a considerable amount of charm to deflect her."
"Rachel," breathed Cassie as she looked around him scanning for her. She was undecided whether Rachel making her way towards where she was being manhandled was a good or a bad thing and hoped a glimpse of Rachel's expression would settle the matter of whether she was in trouble or not.
"Carmen hurried her away to prepare for her performance," added Paul.
Cassie decided to forego dragging details of his encounter with Rachel out of her brother, as he'd just gain far too much enjoyment in stringing her along and making her work for every word. He grinned at her as if he could read her mind.
"She's wearing a rather impressive outfit," he prompted.
"Carmen?" queried Cassie with as much nonchalance as she could muster.
"No, Rachel," Paul's smirk indicated she wasn't fooling him for a moment, "if you can call it an outfit."
Cassie settled for a non-committal "Oh," even as her mouth watered with just how little of an outfit Rachel could be wearing. She brought her thoughts back under control, "We're taking things slowly."
"Hmm, well good luck with that," he laughed as the lights in the auditorium dimmed and they both turned to face the stage where a slightly flustered Carmen stood adjusting the height of the microphone stand. The evening's entertainment was about to commence.
Rachel had noticed Cassie the moment her soon to be ex-teacher entered the room. Cassie's long strapless red dress alone would have made her stand out as it clung elegantly to her shapely figure, however she had taken extra care to ensure her makeup and hair accentuated her natural beauty. Make up as a highlighter rather than as a disguise - it had been a while. Cassie's blonde hair was pinned up with a few stray tendrils hanging down to tease the flawless expanse of lightly tanned shoulders. Rachel's heart thudded noisily in her chest, that this stunning woman was even remotely interested in her was just unbelievable. Her eyes drifted over the figure of Cassie's brother - her plans to end the evening in the arms and hence bed of one Cassandra July had possibly become just the slightest bit more difficult. Her annoyance was merely fleeting, as it was obvious the brother doted on Cassie, judging by the indulgent looks he sent her way in between smiles. Rachel sipped her drink and wrestled against the urge to join the group currently engaging Cassie in conversation. She needed to be mindful about appearances and besides her time would come. She could do delayed gratification - she'd been doing it for over a week! - now was the time for calm measured coolness. Rachel placed her empty glass on the table and watched as the group dynamics around Cassie changed to leave her standing alone in conversation with a man who'd probably be considered quite handsome if you were into, well, men. Part of her growth into adulthood was her moving on from irrational jealousies, she told herself as she watched the man encroach into Cassie's personal space and congratulated herself on her adult serenity in the face of such provocation. It was a brief moment of serenity for as soon as an unwelcome arm found its way around Cassie's shoulders Rachel's cool collectedness evaporated. She found herself striding purposefully - or rather, striding as purposefully as her heels allowed - towards where Cassie was being manhandled without any clear idea of what she was going to say or do but driven to intercede.
"Rachel isn't it?" a friendly voice asked as a smiling smartly dressed man stepped into her path and held out a drink to her. The red mist cleared sufficiently for her to recognise Cassie's brother, the issue was how did he know who she was? She smiled an acknowledgement of her name and accepted the proffered apple juice even as her mind raced with concern at just what exactly this man knew about her and Cassie - if anything.
"I'm Paul, Cassie's brother and it's a pleasure to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you and I can hardly wait to hear you sing as Cassie says her recordings don't do you justice and you sound phenomenal on them," Paul gave his most winsome smile and waited for Rachel's gaze to focus on him.
"Er thanks," muttered Rachel still uncertain as to what information Paul was privy to. Her singing would need to impress as she was hardly wowing him with her conversational skills.
"But more importantly I wanted to meet the woman responsible for putting such a big smile on my little sister's face after so long," Paul paused to watch a delightful blush make its presence known on Rachel's cheeks
"I didn't really do anything," muttered Rachel awkwardly.
"Thanks for helping her to value herself. Not many people have the patience to see beyond the walls she puts up," Paul leant forward, "and you'll have to tell me how you managed to persuade her to even consider the possibility of returning to Broadway because I've been trying for years..."
Any further conversation was cut off as Carmen joined them, urging Rachel to take her place by the stage, as the entertainment was about to start. Paul managed to express the wish that he and Rachel would be able to chat later even as Carmen hurried her away. Rachel managed a quick glance over to where Cassie seemed to have extricated herself from the clutches of the unwanted admirer and all without needing her assistance. She'd need to thank Paul for saving her from making an idiot of herself. As she trailed in Carmen's wake towards the front of the auditorium she realised just how little time she had had this evening to think about tonight's performance. Her thoughts had been mostly preoccupied with how she hoped a rather private post performance party would go. Rachel could feel a calm confidence settle over her even as Carmen made the introductions. Once the first note was successfully sung she'd be in her performance zone, invincible, with her attention focussed on one particular member of the audience.
Quinn was doing her best to surreptitiously hurry a dawdling Kurt along but her verbal prompts were going unnoticed and unless she was prepared to drag him along by the arm there was little she could do. She waved away his suggestions that they stop for her to 'freshen up' and tried to ignore the sneaking suspicion that he was revelling in her impatience. Quinn was keen to see Rachel again and her thoughts about how Rachel was always so pleased to see her helped her tune out Kurt's irritating witterings about expensive flowers, secret admirers and the folly of trying to fool friends. Who knew how gay boy brains worked? He seemed happy delivering his soliloquy even as the auditorium finally arrived in sight. They were barely through the doors when the lights dimmed and a spotlight focussed the audience's attention to a petite figure standing on the stage. An expectant hush descended. Quinn felt a thrill race through her as she drank in the sight of a confident Rachel swaying gently to the introduction of her song with her eyes closed and one hand lightly holding the microphone stand. The sight of those tanned exquisite legs alone made the journey from New Haven worthwhile and the thought of tracing their length with her fingertips or - God - her tongue quickly had Quinn in an overheated state, her pulse pounding loudly in her ears. She needed to focus so she could hear the song. Around her the crowd quieted and conversation ceased as everyone's attention settled on Rachel.
Cassie's heart raced as she finally laid eyes on her Rachel as her eyes greedily took in the perfection in front of her. Dry mouthed she allowed herself a longer lingering look at the sumptuous legs in front of her exposed by an almost indecently short dress.
"Want help picking up your jaw from the floor?" whispered Paul, "Or wiping up your drool?"
His comments hardly registered as a mesmerised Cassie waited for Rachel's eyes to open.
Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Rachel's gaze was immediately fixed on Cassie and her purring of the words sent an immediate jolt of arousal through Cassie.
Dance me through the panic 'til I'm gathered safely in
Rachel's sultry delivery of the lyrics as she wrapped her arms around her chest and gently undulated to the music had Cassie mesmerised.
Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
Of course Rachel would choose a song about dancing, it was after all how this all began. With her teasing smile, carefully controlled soft tone and gentle movements, Rachel quickly created an intimate atmosphere. The gentle suggestive swaying on her hips, the caressing of the microphone and her arms gently wrapped around herself all contributed to the suddenly cosy atmosphere. But it was her delivery that was having the impact as she managed to mix a vulnerable tone with her sensual purring. That knowing look between coy glances had Cassie incapable of coherent thought - spontaneous combustion in a ball of lust suddenly seemed a distinct possibility.
Kurt's insistence on providing a running commentary on Rachel's performance - or rather how he had found that dress and persuaded her to buy it and if it wasn't for him... - was initially easy for Quinn to tune out as she just enjoyed being wrapped in the sounds of Rachel singing in her distinctive style but now with adult facets added to her performance. Rachel so deserved to be with someone who could fully appreciate and worship her; she was just amazingly impressive. Quinn smiled. Her sense of contentment and pleasure was abruptly interrupted as the idle wish that Rachel was singing to her morphed into the realisation Rachel was singing this song to somebody. A cold sense of dread ran down her spine. This performance had the familiar features of Rachel seducing someone through song - how could she have missed it? The tell tale hair sweep just before she started, that oh-so-familiar coquettish glance through an imaginary fringe, that extra huskiness in her tone, never mind all that heart-squeezing emotion she wrung from every word. Quinn dragged her eyes away from Rachel to follow her eye line, desperately searching the crowd for the recipient. Her job was made harder by the rapt attention of the swathe of people in Rachel's direct line of sight but for some reason her attention was pulled to where an elegant, vaguely familiar woman in a red dress stood enamoured and totally engrossed in the performance. It was now obvious that this person was the focus of Rachel's efforts.
Quinn impatiently cut across Kurt's ramblings, "Who's the blonde in the red dress?"
He followed her gaze, "that my dear is the reason we're here," he paused dramatically for effect and Quinn fought the urge to punch an answer out of him, "Cassandra July, Rachel's arch nemesis and tormentor. The ice-cold heartless beauty commonly known as..."
Quinn didn't need to make the effort to tune Kurt out as suddenly flashbacks of various events were running through her brain. Rachel's reluctance to talk about that damned woman - ever, that awkward pause before Rachel had lamely finished her blurted 'she's incredibly' with 'talented', Rachel's impatient waiting for 'an e-mail about her work', the sincere honesty of her explanation and the feeling she'd dismissed at the time of something being not quite right about it, but the clincher (so damned obvious with hindsight) was that awkward conversation about 'Sandra' (no eye contact) from 'her dance class' (full no-holds-barred eye contact) - why had she not seen it before? She fixed an icy cold stare on Ms Cassandra July. Wasn't she the woman she'd met – where was it- ah yes, the ladies room at Callbacks? What had that been all about?
Quinn reined in the urge to scream her rage and concentrated on freezing her emotions. She needed to draw on her dispassionate skills as HBIC to properly assess the situation here and decide how to move forward. Not that it was difficult to see what was going on here, naïve unworldly Rachel was being effortlessly manipulated and played by that older scheming bitch of a woman. Rachel drawn to someone who had had a taste of the stardom Rachel craved - even if it had been as brief and disastrous as Kurt said. It didn't take much imagination to see how easily Rachel would have been lured in, desperate for any extra guidance on how to improve after being ruthlessly publically criticised by that bitch – probably reluctantly (hah) offering extra after school lessons provided Rachel didn't tell anyone about them. Extra lessons - what a cliche. Quinn seethed quietly. Poor sweet Rachel was always such a sucker for any sign of affection that her dance teacher would hardly need to groom her ready to sexually exploit her. Quinn could feel the bile rising so she dragged her eyes away from the vile creature and swept the room with her gaze.
Hadn't Kurt mentioned something about that woman sleeping with another student and a former potential love interest for Rachel, Brady? Brody? Just how many of the people here had that miserable cowardly predatory excuse for a dance teacher actually fucked? It was a major abuse of trust playing on the weakness of others like that – in fact words were hardly adequate to express the true extent of her outrage. Quinn glanced back to the stage as Rachel danced and sang her way to the climax of the song and suddenly felt embarrassed that an emotionally innocent Rachel was practically prostituting herself for the scheming Ms July. Just another notch on the bedpost of an immoral bitter woman. The urge to commandeer the microphone and point out just why NYADA should be pleased to see the back of Ms July was nearly overwhelming but Rachel being part of the collateral damage stopped her – that and the total lack of any proof other than the sick feeling in her throat. Rachel was already in too deep and Kurt was obviously completely oblivious. Another chill made its way down her spine - what should she do to rescue Rachel?
Rachel hummed her way through the final few notes. She had had the crowd in the palm of her hand and although usually that was all she needed, this time it was only one particular audience member she was concerned about. Cassie's eyes had been fixed on her throughout the song but it was practically impossible to read anything else from her gaze at this distance - she hoped she hadn't overstepped any boundaries. There was a moment of awed silence as the song finished before thunderous appreciative applause and whistles greeted her. This post performance high was what she spent her life craving only now she was partly preoccupied with topping this off with a Cassie inspired emotional buzz. The combination of performance-induced adrenalin rush crossed with a delicious anticipation of a later sexual high had her weak-kneed with excitement. She gave a beaming acknowledgment of the acclaim and then stepped down from the stage. The applause tailed off as she found herself immediately engulfed in a crowd of her peers, suddenly eager to claim her as their own. Rachel's eyes were fixed on watching Cassie making her way towards her even as she tuned into chatter of the admirers around her. Her heart was racing faster than when she'd stepped on the stage. She smiled at the suggestion of her nobility in pulling out all the stops for Car Crash when Car Crash had been such a bitch to her all year – she joked Wicked had taught her to 'rise above it'. She felt reassured when Julian claimed that Any suggestions she couldn't do sexy had been well and truly dispelled. It was the reassurance she needed just as Cassie finally reached the group. Cassie's mere presence caused most of the crowd around Rachel to scatter.
As soon as Rachel descended from the stage Cassie was quickly moving towards her wondering where the nearest classy hotel was because she had an overwhelming need to get Rachel alone, horizontal and out of that dress right now. The pair of them would never make it back to her loft apartment without breaking a dozen cab bylaws. Okay maybe she had invited Paul to stay to stop her doing anything as rash as what she now planned but... fuck it, Rachel and her were both grown-ups and they'd waited long enough. Paul was a grown-up too so he could fend for himself. Cassie made her way to the front of the appreciative group currently surrounding Rachel. Her efforts to be suave were rather ruined by her croaky voice
"Rachel, that was… incredible," she finally managed, her voice an octave lower than her usual register.
"Why Miss July, I didn't know you could do praise," teased a sparkly-eyed decidedly smug Rachel.
"Well only for exceptional performances like that," replied Cassie "and please, now that I'm no longer your teacher, call me Cassie."
"Thank you... Cassie," beamed Rachel.
"That's a stunning dress," added Cassie using the opportunity to run her eyes over Rachel, lingering slightly longer than politically correct on her legs.
"Nothing you haven't seen before," Rachel paused to enjoy the slight blush on Cassie's cheeks, " in Dance 101."
"Definitely haven't seen you in heels that high," replied Cassie, "I can see your eyes rather than the usual top of your head."
They smiled at each other communicating far more in a non-verbal manner. The intensity of their locked gazes was suddenly broken.
"Rachel you were amazing and that dress is sensational," Kurt's voice was unmistakable, "and even more amazing, look who's here. Tah dah!"
Kurt pulled Quinn into view with a suitable Kurt-like flourish.
"Quinn", muttered a wide-eyed Rachel scarcely able to believe whom she was seeing and uncertain quite how she felt about Quinn being here. Pleased obviously but also incredibly frustrated that her seduction plans were rapidly being thwarted by circumstances beyond her control. She was sure Cassie had been on the verge of suggesting they left together, judging from her smouldering gazes just now but Rachel could see she'd retreated slightly upon Quinn and Kurt's arrival.
Kurt's self-satisfied smirk at the way Rachel was practically speechless with shock and delight at the unexpected appearance of her girlfriend quickly withered as Ms July's glare settled on him. The woman always looked at him as if she wanted to tear him limb from limb and this time was no exception. He dared to pull his gaze away to focus on where Quinn had pulled Rachel into a fiercely protective hug and managed a rather strangled "Rachel." Quinn's reluctance to release Rachel was obvious and as an added bonus Quinn sent a hostile stare in Ms July's direction - there was a hint of the old Quinn they'd all known and hated in that look. Even Ms July's smile wavered momentarily or maybe he had imagined that. Rachel was beginning to look a little uncomfortable and Kurt cursed Ms July silently in his head for not moving on from where she so patently wasn't wanted. It was a shame that she seemed impervious to all that intense dislike Quinn was projecting.
"Quinn," Rachel moved to break the silence and the unexpected tension that seemed to thicken the atmosphere. She had looked forward to introducing the two most important women in her life to each other but now the moment had unexpectedly arrived it no longer seemed like such a good idea. She had wanted to be able to introduce Cassie as her girlfriend but that certainly wasn't appropriate at this particular moment. She shook off her sense of foreboding - it was just nerves - fixed a smile to her face and tried to exude happy thoughts, "this is..."
"Cassandra July," Quinn's tone was neutral and the smile was merely perfunctory, "We've already met."
Rachel was so surprised by the fact the pair were apparently not strangers - how was that possible? - that she didn't pick up on the hostility Quinn was directing at Cassie. They couldn't have met, it just wasn't feasible.
"Have we?" drawled Cassie knowing exactly who this glowering woman in front of her was even as she acted out searching her memory and coming up blank. She shrugged nonchalantly, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Quinn."
Quinn eyed the extended hand suspiciously before deciding she didn't really have a choice other than to shake it. Ms July's raised eyebrow and knowing smirk when Quinn tried to crush her hand only served to infuriate Quinn further. Quinn was more familiar with this kind of person than she cared to admit.
Rachel glanced between the two women in front of her; something was going on beyond the smiles they were exchanging. For some reason there was a tension in the air and everyone seemed to be slightly out of character, even Kurt's manic grinning was proving unsettling. She needed to stop that smile-off or whatever it was going on between Quinn and Cassie.
"So Quinn what brings you to New York?" Rachel's attempt to project a cheery bright tone struck a jarring note across the group.
Quinn's gaze switched from Cassie and softened as she looked at Rachel before glancing down. Her whispered emotion-laden response of "you" would have been enough to have a romantic like Kurt swooning if he thought anyone would notice but he didn't think anyone would so he skipped the dramatic impulse.
"I couldn't resist the opportunity of watching you sing live," added Quinn hastily matching Rachel's faux cheery note. She was afraid she'd allowed too many of her feelings to slip out with her previous answer.
Cassie's immediate thought that Quinn never could resist the opportunity to comment negatively either, given all the skysplitz postings on Rachel's videos, led to her trying to choke back a snort of derision. She was partially successful as it travelled to Quinn's ears only. Suddenly Quinn's attention flicked back to Cassie and she sent one of her best most venomous glares in her direction. She'd been able to reduce any of the cheerleaders to tears almost instantly with that look. Unfortunately Cassie's taunting smile towards her didn't falter in the slightest.
"Your performance was impressive - I wouldn't miss the opportunity to watch you sing live in the future either." Paul took the opportunity to join the conversation stepping forward from the fringes of the small group to try and help lighten the atmosphere, "So how did you choose which song to sing?"
Paul's intervention was masterful forcing the group's attention first to him and then back on to Rachel.
"By the way, I'm Paul," he added nodding towards an irritated looking Quinn and an inanely grinning Kurt.
"Well Paul," beamed Rachel, relieved at his intervention, "only a song about dancing would be good enough for a dance teacher..."
Rachel's planned detailed reply was cut off by a sudden blast of sound from the stage and this time a group of singers stood in the spotlight. All eyes turned to the stage even as Carmen magically appeared to lead Cassie away to where some rather old, suit-wearing men stood. Paul excused himself quietly to Rachel with an "I'll let you catch up with your friends," and a friendly wink.
It left a smug Kurt, a disappointed Rachel and a decidedly irritated Quinn standing together, allegedly watching the performance in front of them but actually all immersed in their own thoughts and feelings. Only one of them was happy with how the evening events were panning out and that was because he'd completely missed the nuances of what had been going on right under his nose. As the melody of songs on stage ended and the lights rose, Kurt found himself on the receiving end of a rather hostile Fabray look. Never let it be said that he couldn't take a hint.
"I'll leave you love birds to it," trilled Kurt happily as he skipped away to go and do who cared what.
Rachel decided that even if all her plans were going to hell in a hand basket she could at least sort out with Quinn what Kurt's fanciful beliefs alluded to in his parting remark. Now would be a good time to clue Quinn in and laugh together at the preposterousness of Kurt's ideas.
"Kurt has this ridiculous notion that just because we're happy showing our affection for each other then we must be attracted to each other," blurted Rachel, "I mean how daft!"
"Hmmm," managed a surprised Quinn, uncertain how to reply. Was now the time to gather her courage together and tell Rachel how she really felt? Maybe she could save Rachel from any further entanglement with that woman?
Rachel took Quinn's non-committal response as evidence of just quite how put out she was at the idea. So she rushed to reassure her.
"Head Cheerleader Quinn Fabray and loser Rachel Berry," Rachel smiled at the incongruity of that statement, "Most of our high school friends would have enough difficulty comprehending the idea of us being friends, I mean have you even told Santana or Brittany?"
"Well... I... er... no but..," Quinn struggled to form her response. She'd wanted to keep her friendship with Rachel to herself, besides Santana would have dragged the truth out of her and then she would have had to endure Santana's rather peculiar idea of humour.
"Oh don't worry Quinn I'm not offended," smiled Rachel, "It just proves my point about the total absurdity of us being intimately involved."
Rachel's amusement was too much to contain and she laughed merrily as Quinn smiled a little stiffly.
"Maybe not that absurd," managed Quinn only to be met with another wave of Rachel laughter.
"Oh come on Quinn, you and me?" Rachel had to stop because of her laughter. Quinn tried not to look offended – what was so wrong with that idea?
"Let's leave aside the thorny issue of sexuality for the moment," a full-on disarming Rachel Berry smile was directed at Quinn as Rachel finally managed to control her amusement enough to speak, "look at you, you're beautiful, you could have anyone you ever wanted."
Rachel paused sufficiently for Quinn to wonder about the viability of wailing "but you're the only one I want" but her courage deserted her and she managed only a stuttered "but you're beautiful too,"
Rachel waved her remark away, "Oh Quinn, don't try and spare my feelings now, we both know I'm not and that's okay."
"You are," Quinn insisted softly.
"Years of high school feedback says otherwise," replied Rachel and then realising the oblique reference to the bullying that Quinn had spearheaded might make her feel uncomfortable she hurried on, "Besides you know you find me loud, irritating and pushy in anything other than small doses."
Quinn's emotions were all over the place. She made a supreme effort to try to control the turmoil inside while lightening the conversation.
"Oh I don't know," she managed even as she felt tears forming, "we've managed a long weekend together without me wanting to kill you."
Quinn suddenly found herself engulfed in a Rachel hug and being told what a wonderful friend she was. She hugged Rachel tightly, able to see through the blur of her tears Ms July staring intently at them across the room. When Rachel released her she made her excuses to head off to the bathroom, discouraging Rachel from joining her by sending her off for drinks. She just needed a moment to pull herself together.
Cassie knew Carmen was trying to help her network with all these introductions but it was hard to concentrate when her focus was on Rachel. She smiled politely as the Chair of whatever arts committee continued to tell her just how important he was. Over his shoulder she'd watched Quinn's conversation with Rachel uncertain what to make of Rachel's amusement and the obvious discomfort of Quinn. The hard stare Quinn had directed her way before heading in the direction of the restrooms had had a hint of challenge about it. She extricated herself from the current 'conversation' and made her way to follow Quinn even as she watched TV sleaze guy approach Quinn with a "hey beautiful." You didn't need good lip reading skills to be able to read her succinct instruction that he should go away and make love to himself. Her amusement was short lived as Paul gently tugged on her arm and asked what she was up to as he glanced pointedly in Quinn's direction. He kept pace with her as she walked.
"Look Paul she obviously has some issues with me that she isn't prepared to raise in front of Rachel so I'm going to give her the opportunity to get them off her chest," explained Cassie. It just felt like the right thing to do. If they could resolve whatever issues there were - surely about her treatment of Rachel in the classroom - then Rachel wouldn't have to feel torn between friend and girlfriend in the future? Now was as good a time as any to nip any misunderstandings in the bud.
"Are you sure that's wise?" asked Paul concerned.
Cassie shrugged. Maybe not wise but it felt right. Paul sighed on recognising Cassie's stubborn expression.
"Hostile would be an understatement of her attitude towards you and I'm not sure she's ready for rational debate," Paul warned, "I've no idea what you hope to achieve by orchestrating a show down".
"Not a show down, just a frank exchange of views." Grinned Cassie before becoming more serious, "We both have Rachel's best interests at heart so maybe a little clearing of the air is needed."
Cassie smiled reassuringly at him as they stopped by the doors, "Your job is to distract Rachel if she looks like she's heading this way."
"Cassie?" Paul called her back as she started to walk away, "Be careful, there must be something more than just a dislike of your teaching methods to engender such animostiy. Maybe you were right and she likes Rachel too so sees you as a potential threat.." He trailed off unable to back up the feeling he had.
Cassie grinned at him, "Don't be silly, as far as she's concerned I'm the bitchy teacher who gave Rachel a hard time and she probably wants to call me out on it. No sweat, I'll let her say her piece." She leaned over to whisper conspiratorially in his ear, "Besides Quinn's in no position to lecture me on the treatment of Rachel."
Paul watched Cassie push open the door of the ladies bathroom. He had a feeling the meeting wasn't going to go as Cassie envisaged it would.