"So you deny that there were any serious rifts on or off set?" Rita quirked her eyebrow.

"I don't deny that, at times, there were arguments. We didn't always agree with each other. As a cast, we didn't always love each other every minute of every single day. However, we always respected each other. No matter what, there was an undeniable respect that each cast and crewmember had for each other. That's largely what made the show work so well," Rachel replied.

"There were no catfights," Quinn chuckled. "When Rachel and I moved into separate apartments, it wasn't about some rift over wages or screen-time. It had nothing to do with work. It had nothing to do with fame. She was in a serious relationship. I was struggling with my own private battles," Quinn added.

"With your sexuality?" Rita asked softly.

She wasn't pushing for the sake of a good story. She was genuinely curious as a fan and as someone who looked up to the bravery of both of the women in the room. It wasn't every day that two leading ladies confirmed that they were in a relationship with each other. In Hollywood, it could've been career-ending. Instead, they had taken everything in stride and led successful careers based on their talents.

"In some ways. I struggled a lot with accepting myself- sexuality aside. It was difficult to figure out exactly where my place was- with regards to my career and the person I wanted to be in juxtaposition with the person that I was at the time," Quinn answered sincerely.

"Do you think you have since found that balance of who you are, who you want to be, and what that means with your career?"

"I think I've been fortunate enough to find jobs that allow me the opportunity to work on my talents. I think I've been fortunate enough to surround myself with people who support the person that I am. And I think that I have been fortunate enough to have someone in my life who challenges me to constantly better myself and move closer to the person I want to be."

"Plus I was a struggle back then. You were totally in love with me and trying to deal with my awesomeness," Rachel smirked.

She knew if Quinn revealed too much of herself in the interview then she would backtrack and shut down. Getting a good interview out of Quinn Fabray took skills...or it took having Rachel Berry next to her to help steer the interview in ways that kept Quinn open and comfortable.

"And there was that whole being in love with my best friend thing," Quinn stated dryly, rolling her eyes.

Rachel winked at her and laughed.

Paramount Lot

9 Years Ago

Exactly one month ago, Quinn went through the worst/best week of her life. Rachel had moved out of their apartment. It was hard. Actually, hard didn't even begin to cover the separation anxiety Quinn went through. At the same time, it had been a relief in many ways. Josh's continued presence caused a strain on her friendship with Rachel- even after her conversation with Santana.

Quinn had vowed to be Rachel's friend and nothing more. She took Santana's advice and relied on her other friends when things got too difficult. She spent a lot of time at Brittany and Santana's place. The Unholy Trinity was reunited and better than ever. Brittany became an assistant choreographer on SING! which provided Quinn with another ally on set.

Strangely enough, the more Shawn was around- the more she started to rely on him as a distraction as well. He was turning into a very good friend. After finishing ADR on their film, the Australian stayed in California. He was constantly meeting with different directors and producers. He was trying to network as much as possible to ensure his career could sustain after the film was released.

As Rachel's relationship with Josh evolved, her relationships with the entire cast dwindled slightly. His permanent fixture in her life put a strain on everyone. It wasn't that he was a bad guy. He was just different from the fun-loving carefree group. Josh was a serious performer. He was desperately trying to break into film. He had built a name for himself on Broadway but really wanted to pursue more on-camera projects. Every casual gathering felt more like a career-coaching session with the cast.

Rachel's career seemed to be taking off even outside of the show. At the Emmy's, her dress attracted a lot of attention. Her PR team went into overdrive trying to get as much exposure as possible. She missed a lot of the group outings. She began talking about her relationship with Josh in the media instead of her friendships with the cast- leading to suspicion that there were problems within the cast. Her PR team pushed for her to be everywhere- events, signings, interviews, guest appearances on Fashion Police. She went from "That girl on that singing show to- Rachel Berry, that girl that some people had actually heard of".

Quinn also gained a lot of attention on the Emmy's red carpet. It was all about Shawn. Were they dating? Did he move to LA to be closer to her? When was the film coming out? She knew the publicity for the movie was great. She knew she should love the attention. Yet, she couldn't quite bring the smile to her eyes when coyly avoiding relationship questions the way a woman in love would answer. She felt like she was lying to everyone.

Upon Rachel's move, Quinn remained in the same apartment complex. She moved to a one bedroom in the same building on the second floor. Being there everyday meant her cast interactions didn't vary much. Matt and Courtney were living together. Scott, Brooke, and David all lived in the same complex. Chase and Rachel were the only ones who were really separated.

Rachel and Josh's apartment was closer to Chase's new place than the old complex that the majority of the cast shared. Chase had moved out of his man cave not long after the tour ended and bought his own home. He and Rachel often carpooled to work until it was suspected that they were having an affair. Rumors about tensions within the cast where abound. Every magazine had a different theory about which person was dating another of the cast and which girls hated each other. If the rumors were true- they were all horny, attention greedy, social ladder climbers using each other for a good story.

Rachel and Chase pulled into the lot together that morning and had been pretty removed from the rest of the cast. They were doing a Madonna tribute episode. The duo had yet another teasing duet and had filmed it at the start of the day. Quinn watched them from the corner of her eye during dance rehearsal.

"Two, three, step, kick, turn," the main choreographer, Adam called out as Chase missed the step once again.

Rachel sighed and walked through the steps slowly with him. The choreographer actually placed his hands on Chase's hips to guide him, which had Rachel in stitches. She was bent over laughing hysterically at the two men over-exaggerating the moves. Chase was hip thrusting with abandon. Rachel shook her head and grinned. She was trying to remain professional but sometimes Chase's clowning was contagious. He was grinning at her and wiggling his eyebrows. She turned around as if embarrassed. Her eyes found Quinn's. Quinn raised an eyebrow. Rachel blushed. Quinn furrowed her eyebrows. Why did Rachel blush? Was it Chase's attention or Quinn's that brought the crimson to her cheeks?

"I don't think Chase likes Rachel. I mean he does because they're friends. I wouldn't worry about them though" Brittany chimed in.

Quinn was startled by the other blonde's presence. Having Brittany around was like having your AA sponsor with you at all times. It made her feelings for Rachel a little more bearable. Instead of self-destructing and ignoring her best friends, Quinn was able to quickly patch up any awkwardness and be the friend she promised Santana she would be. Sure, Rachel was busy. They had less time to spend together without living together but somehow it didn't feel like the end of the world anymore.

David skipped over to Rachel with a mention of Barbra Streisand. Quinn watched them with a small smile playing on her lips. Rachel's obsession/enthusiasm for Streisand was somehow contagious. David was waving his hands in glee while Rachel flailed about excitedly. He was usually so quiet and reserved, occasionally snarky. One word about Barbra and both of them were off on a tangent. It was one of the few times Quinn could see the Kurt Hummel in the younger boy and understood Rachel's deep attachment to him. Their love of Barbra and similar hairstyles reminded her of Kurt. Beyond that and the storyline they put his character through on the show, he was vastly different from their old friend. She understood his close friendship with Rachel, especially in recent months. The brunette obviously missed Kurt dearly and tried desperately to wish David into a substitute Kurt. Quinn had her high school best friends back. Rachel missed hers. The blonde silently vowed to find a way to fix that void for Rachel.

When Matt joined Rachel and David's conversation about Streisand, it seemed as though all was right in the world again. The entire cast came together for a great rehearsal and everyone was laughing. The tension disappeared. Magazines could publish any rumor they wanted, but the cast loved coming to work every day. Rachel was herself again. She was slightly bossy and abrasive during the routine but in a way that they were all used to and had come to enjoy. It was like being in Glee again in high school- all the different cliques united for one purpose and forgetting their problems at the door.

Their problems arrived on set after lunch when Josh showed up. Quinn tried to remind herself that he was a really great guy. He respected Rachel. Somehow he made her laugh. He was kind. He tried hard to keep her happy. He was a great guy…yet Quinn couldn't jump on board. She knew it was primarily jealousy that kept her at arm's length from the guy. She just couldn't deal with him.

"You remember that audition I had for Grey's Anatomy?" Josh asked, wrapping his arms around Rachel next to craft services.

Quinn wondered if he had been photographed again on the way in. More headlines of lovers' quarrels and a hidden affair were sure to make headlines. It didn't seem to matter that Chase and Josh got along very well. It really didn't seem to matter that Chase himself had never expressed an interest in Rachel. The brunette's squeal interrupted Quinn's thoughts. Josh picked her up and spun her around.

"I'm so happy for you baby," Rachel practically sang, raining kisses all over his cheeks.

Josh beamed. He got the part. He had the girl. In that moment, Quinn hated him. It was an evil feeling that swarmed about in her insides like bees. She glared in his direction feeling the thick claws of jealousy squeeze her heart like some ragged beast intent on her destruction. Her mind was spinning into endless metaphors for the unsettling pit in her stomach.

"You really need to tighten up security around here. Just anybody can walk onto your set," came a familiar voice behind Quinn.

Quinn smiled as she turned to hug Shawn. The tall, blonde Aussie was freshly tanned and smelled like the ocean when she wrapped her arms around him. It wasn't that he had become her closest friend. His knowledge of her feelings for Rachel went as an unspoken thing between them. He never mentioned it after that one passing comment in the airport but he also stopped attempting to hit on her. He wasn't ashamed to garner more PR with their friendship- which irked Quinn. Still, having a silent supporter meant more than she could really voice. It was nice to have someone around who wasn't so close to Rachel in the way that the Unholy Trinity knew their past and the cast knew their present. Shawn didn't really know Rachel but he knew Quinn and he was firmly in her corner.

"Did you come here straight from the beach? You smell like a sea lion," Quinn teased.

Shawn fluffed his shaggy blonde locks to see if they had fully dried. He had the decency to blush though it was hardly noticeable on his sun-kissed cheeks. He nodded and grinned at her bashfully. She tipped her head to the visible sand still stuck between his toes and grimaced while he blushed further.

"I went for a surf and then I got hungry. I thought, you know where they have the absolute worst burger- I should go there for lunch and disturb the Judge for the day," Shawn laughed.

Judge had become his playful nickname for Quinn. He claimed she judged everyone upon first glance. It wasn't entirely false but he really seemed to enjoy it. He even sent her a small wooden gavel as a gift before the Emmy's. It stayed in her trailer on set next to a pile of fan-mail that Alan had handpicked for Quinn to read and a picture of her mom and Frannie. It was the one item that Rachel couldn't keep her hands off in the trailer. The few times the brunette had been in the space, she constantly played with that gavel. Quinn couldn't quite grasp if Rachel loved the gift and agreed with it or if she hated it and wanted to break the damn thing. She would fidget with it as if it was the one thing that was never truly in the right place.

Quinn felt eyes on her and quickly scanned the room. Rachel was seated at a long picnic table next to Josh. She blushed again. Quinn quirked her head. It wasn't Chase who garnered that reaction. Quinn swallowed thickly as her heart pounded for some reason.

"Joining us again?" Scott asked, bumping fists with Shawn.

Shawn nodded and took a seat at another table next Scott.

The extras began piling in, bringing increased volume with them in their excitement. David joined Rachel and Josh briefly before she had to prepare for the next scene. Josh trailed behind her to her trailer. Some of the extras were actively tweeting on their phones. Quinn knew it would only be a matter of time until the entire world knew that Shawn was visiting Quinn Fabray on the set of SING! once again. It would fuel more couple rumors and get people talking about a possible guest appearance for him on the show. Ellen DeGeneres even got him to sing the last time he'd been a guest on her talk show.

"People are going to start to think you work here," Quinn rolled her eyes.

"If only Alan would let me sing," Shawn laughed.

Thankfully, Shawn was a terrible singer. He really had no business being a guest star on the show. It wasn't that Quinn didn't enjoy spending time with him. She truly did love his support. He usually served as a great distraction from her feelings for Rachel. She was focused on getting through her feelings and keeping her best friend no matter what.

Rachel had been off her game all afternoon. What she thought had been a great day quickly turned sour after lunch. Josh came to visit. He was there to greet her between scenes every time she returned to her trailer. Normally, she was happy to see his smiling face on her breaks. He provided great shoulder massages, words of encouragement, and occasionally got a little handsy. She would protest but kind of loved the forbidden aspect of an on-set-in-between-takes hookup. Her professionalism never let it get that far. Still, the thought that anyone could walk in on an intimate moment was a little thrilling- not totally surprising, for the girl who's greatest dream was to perform in front of an audience. But again, her professionalism would never let things progress that far with Josh while on set.

Today…things weren't going well. Josh was in her trailer. He was smiling. He was being supportive. And yet…he wouldn't stop talking about his Grey's Anatomy gig. It wasn't that Rachel didn't want him to develop his silver screen career. She really loved when he was successful. She saw his Broadway show at least seventeen times. She was happy for him. And yet…she wished he would just shut up.

He'd been yapping on and on for days about how well his audition had gone. Then he had been stuck on loop about his glorious callback. After years of living with Kurt, Rachel had learned how to be truly happy when someone else succeeded. The success of others did not belittle or take away from her own glory. Jealousy over careers had been something she'd gotten control over years ago. So she was genuinely happy for him.

He was just…he annoyed her lately.

Nothing went right in the last scene. She was off and she knew that Alan wasn't happy even when he said they had gotten the take he wanted. She couldn't shake it. Something was itching inside her. She just couldn't place it.

"My mom was over the moon. You know how she gets about Patrick Dempsey. All she could say was Can't Buy Me Love, Josh. I've loved him since Can't Buy Me Love," Josh laughed.

Rachel smiled politely, dutifully, and nodded her head. She'd heard the story six times already. Josh was worse than her Bubbe about the beef tips they'd had on vacation. The woman had told every single member of her extended family to try the beef tips. By the time her Uncle Seth's kids had gone through the line, her Papa had been able to mouth the words right along with her grandmother.

"Babe?" Josh asked.

Rachel realized she had ventured off in her thoughts.

"Sorry. You were saying?" Rachel smiled again, politely, dutifully.

"Mom wants me to get a picture with him and invite him to her birthday party," Josh laughed.

Rachel barely suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. Josh's mom was sweet and meant well, but…another added item to the list of reasons why she honestly couldn't picture Josh as her future husband- having that woman as her mother-in-law. In fact, the list of cons in her mental "Josh spreadsheet" had been gradually growing.

He snored. He seldom remembered to put the toilet seat down. He always burned the popcorn on their movie nights. In the mornings, he had the habit of stretching in front of the open refrigerator. He would leave the door open for at least five minutes while he stretched, yawned, scratched his stomach, and then searched for his skim milk with an exaggerated huff- like it was a nuisance that Rachel had moved it to get to the soy she put on her cereal.

They were little complaints to be sure. Living with anyone meant discovering the flaws of a boyfriend who was usually only a weekend companion when he lived across the country. They were still adjusting.

Though she couldn't recall ever being annoyed by Quinn's morning rituals. The blonde always moved Rachel's soy to the front if she was up first. She would also leave little notes attached to the refrigerator if she had to leave before Rachel woke up instead of waking her the way Josh always did if he had an early call for a shoot or an early flight. Also, Quinn never burned the popcorn. Well that wasn't entirely true but she never burned it to the point that it was inedible.

Rachel paused in her thoughts. Was she really comparing Josh, her loving boyfriend, to Quinn, her former roommate? Of course it was difficult to live with anyone. It was natural to compare roommate situations. It didn't have to mean anything that she preferred her living situation with Quinn. Maybe she just truly missed her best friend.

Maybe Quinn made popcorn for Shawn. Did the guy even know what lesbian meant? He was everywhere. He was at lunch. He was playing basketball with Chase between scenes. He was high-fiving Scott like they were best friends. He just waltzed all over with his movie star charm and his surfer blonde curls. He smiled at everyone like he was some Australian God coming to dine with the commoners for a day- like they should be grateful for his appearance. He cracked jokes with his stupid accent like that made his off-beat sense of humor more appealing.

"Um babe?" Josh's voice cut through Rachel's steaming haze.

Rachel raised her eyebrows in response. Josh nodded at the pencil in her hands. She had snapped her lucky pencil in half.

"I'm not really sure what the pencil ever did to you, Rach," Josh teased.

"I didn't- oh poo, that was my lucky pencil. I've been scratching in script notes with this thing since the show started," Rachel pouted.

Josh smiled at her warmly and sat down next to her to wrap her in his arms. She inhaled deeply, relaxing into his scent. He wasn't as tall as Chase or Finn. Josh fit around her easily without completely encompassing her. He was comfortable. He was familiar. She felt at ease with him- like a big soft teddy bear to cry into when the world wasn't going her way…or when her best friend ignored her in favor of a young, hot Australian actor.

Josh kissed her furrowed brow gently.

"Icky day?" he asked softly.

"Not entirely. Just…off, I guess," Rachel sighed.

"I'm sorry. Here I am blabbering on and on about Patrick Dempsey and my mom, when you're probably feeling shitty. Babe, you have to know- you're the best. Even on an off day, you're still leagues ahead of the rest of them. We all have bad days. I bet whatever problem you've concocted in your head isn't nearly as bad as it seems," Josh assured.

"No, I really am sucking today. I can feel my energy bringing everybody else down. I screwed up six takes. That's not me."

"Alan knows how amazing you are. If he said he got what he needed, then you know he got what he needed from you. You're the best on this show. Don't worry so much," Josh smiled.

Rachel melted further into his embrace. Tick that off as another check in the pro column on the Josh mental spreadsheet. He really was a great supporter and somehow he could read her mind about her insecurities. He was almost as good at reading her thoughts as Quinn. She'd never found that in a boyfriend before.

That's when the guilt settled in. She knew it wasn't exactly her fault. It was just a dream after all. Still, somewhere over the past few months things had shifted. Her friendship with Quinn felt different. Some days they were so close. Other days it was like there was some invisible barrier forcing them to separate. Knocking on clear glass, trying to reach through to find the girl she thought she knew so well- only to find that she was butting her head against an invisible forcefield. Watching but never quite connecting flesh to flesh.

Flesh to flesh.

It was just a dream. She shouldn't feel so guilty.

Rachel had always noticed other girls. She had never really given her sexuality any thought. Men had been the primary focus. She watched romantic comedies with her fathers and they all discussed the attractiveness of a strong jaw line or a Clooney-like grin. The women playing opposite such men were respected for their talents but not objectified for their bodies. In fact, until high school, she knew women could be objectified but it didn't truly sink in until it began to happen to her.

That's why when she looked at girls like Quinn or Santana or Brittany- she appreciated them for their beauty but more importantly for their talents and social status. The fact that her eyes lingered- just a little longer than most- never truly crossed her mind. She had a one-track mind and it was focused on Finn Hudson- though occasionally skirted over the long legs cascading beneath a red and white pleated skirt or the way certain calf muscles seemed emphasized somehow by flexed white sneakers.

Then Dani happened. Or more accurately, Dani and Santana happened when the Latina was temporarily crashing with Kurt and Rachel in New York during an off-period with Brittany.

Rachel came home from work at the diner to find that her empty apartment was occupied. The kitchen was abandoned with a partly devoured meal spread across the table. The living room flashed some lifetime movie on the television with the sound turned down low. The swelling music as the main character ran after the man of her dreams could not drown out the sounds behind Santana's curtains.

Santana was home. She was not alone.

At first, Rachel was in shock. She froze in the living room with her hand on the television remote. She took a step back not sure if she should leave or loudly announce her presence. It was the first moan that stole the breath from her lungs and cemented her feet to the floor.

She flushed with embarrassment and prayed that nobody would somehow catch her in this situation but she honestly couldn't move. She stared at the couch, not daring her eyes to look in the obvious crack in the curtains. She tried to focus on the patterns of her couch instead of the two bodies just at the edge of her vision. She honestly didn't watch to watch. The thought of watching or leaving or doing anything never crossed her mind. However, when Santana's back arched and her hips stuttered in rhythm against the head between her thighs, Rachel couldn't un-see that moment.

She nearly tripped over the rug in her haste to get out of the apartment. She put it as far from her thoughts as possible when she met Kurt at the doors of the Vogue offices to walk him home since her "shift ended late". The lie sailed effortlessly from her lips though the blush on her cheeks wouldn't escape as easily. The two walked home with excited chatter about Kurt's decision to accept Isabelle's full-time position instead of just an internship and completely give up on NYADA. By the time they arrived home, Santana was sitting on the couch, alone, eating leftovers while watching America's Next Top Model. Rachel surprised herself by looking the Latina in the eye and not flushing at all.

It wasn't until two weeks later after a scarily detailed and realistic dream that Rachel even began to process what she saw. Her thighs were slick. Her heart was pounding. Every time she shut her eyes the image of Santana Lopez locking eyes with her between her legs left her mouth watering and the pounding of her heart echoing much lower.

It took all of her training as an actress not to let her thoughts and dreams affect their friendship. She put it out of her mind during the day and at night let the dreams take over. There was only one occasion when she considered taking care of the ache leftover in the morning but somehow the thought of lusting after her friend in that way in the light of day made her stomach turn.

When Santana moved out about a month later, Rachel let it go. She accepted her attraction and analyzed quickly. Maybe she had a few bisexual thoughts but her primary attraction was with men and unless the right girl came along to change that- she wasn't going to worry about labeling herself for the rest of the world to judge.

Her career became her life. Once things took off, they escalated quickly. She and Finn continued their romance on and off for entirely far too long. She spent so much time and wasted energy being angry with him for a situation that was always destined to fail. She chose her career over a marriage with the boy who had changed her so deeply. Life trudged on from there. Focused on her career and going back and forth between different men.

Until a week ago.

It was a harmless comment from Santana about Quinn's ass. Quinn whirled around put her in her place so quickly it was like high school all over again. Santana had looked equal parts embarrassed and impressed. Quinn was the picture of calm and collected, except the tips of her ears were red…and that sparked…something inside Rachel. She wasn't sure if it was the cool exterior, her quick temper, her ass that Santana had commented on, or oddly enough Quinn's ears.

That night the dream came back. Though this time, Santana wasn't a feature participant. It was all hazel eyes and soft touches. It was reverent. She felt worshipped. She felt…insane. She woke up feeling like a teenager all over again who had just discovered what it meant to be sexually attracted to anyone. She hadn't been certain who the hazel eyes belonged to that first night.

Every night for a week, she'd been having such intense dreams. Sometimes it was a slender arm wrapped around her waist spooning her from behind then the hand casually slipped down her stomach to tease her panty-line before dipping under and caressing her with just the right amount of pressure. Building her up with teasing slips before dipping in with a firm stroke that stoked the fires deep within her belly. She wasn't sure who this mystery lover was- but the person was decidedly female.

Then last night, it was as if she was in high school. The short skirt and red spanks made a quick appearance and an even quicker disappearing act. Thighs wrapped around her own head and moans she'd surely never heard from Quinn Fabray seemed so realistic- she couldn't stop from wondering if that's how the blonde would really sound. The moment she woke up, she knew it had been Quinn all week. She was so embarrassed.

Josh was being the perfect boyfriend. He was supportive and caring. He showed up on set. He helped build her up when she'd screwed up take after take. She rewarded him by dream-cheating on him with her best friend. He spent the whole day taking care of her while she messed up everything. She had just convinced herself that it meant nothing and she was suffering from strange hormones…then one glance from Quinn across the room and she felt her cheeks flame.

Josh was quietly humming in her ear and rubbing her back which stirred her from her thoughts again.

She was not lusting for her best friend. End of story.

"Let's get some fresh air. It might help clear your head today," Josh suggested.

She stepped out of her trailer to see Shawn attempting to play basketball with Quinn. The blonde did a strange little hop on one foot as she tossed the basketball to the hoop. Shawn laughed hysterically and picked her up when the ball actually soared in. Quinn's peels of laughter made Rachel's stomach twist.

"Babe, you alright?" Josh asked, flexing his fingers where Rachel had squeezed.

She turned to him and nodded before planting a kiss on his upturned lips. She pulled him over to the others and asked to join in. Josh and Shawn got slightly competitive with their basketball skills. Josh, a theatre geek throughout high school, didn't have the best shot but somehow maintained some athleticism and surprising finesse with dribbling. His aim was lacking the same finesse. Luckily, Shawn's athleticism was largely geared toward surfing so his hoop shooting skills weren't much better.

Shawn dragged Quinn into the game, claiming that she had this magic one foot shot that his team desperately needed. She rolled her eyes but somehow ended up playing anyway. Josh literally picked Rachel up and brought her into the middle of the game. She squealed with laughter while protesting but ended up throwing up a wild shot that managed to bounce all around the rim before sinking in. All four were impressed. Rachel clapped her hands and jumped up in excitement. Quinn smirked and nearly tackled her in a hug.

Both girls paused in their overzealous excitement. Quinn blushed and Rachel beamed. She threw her arms back around Quinn and squeezed her tight. Quinn coughed and struggled slightly but after only a moment gave up the fight and sank into Rachel's embrace. Rachel pulled away first, flushed as she recalled her dream and how realistic Quinn's embrace had felt now compared with the real thing.

"She's the enemy, Quinn," Shawn groaned with a smile.

Quinn caught his eye and saw he was grinning happily.

"It's time to let the big boys play," Matt insisted, coming on to the makeshift court.

Chase was trailing behind him sheepishly. Scott and their choreographer, Adam came running out as well.

"It's time for the Cheerio to let the boys play and cheer us on," Adam teased.

Quinn slapped his shoulder but let Rachel lead her to the sidelines. The brunette's eyes were shining with happiness that Quinn hadn't seen all day. Rachel linked her arm through Quinn's, panting slightly from her jog around the court before her big shot. Quinn hip checked her and smirked at Rachel's squeak of indignation. Rachel squeezed in a little closer refusing to admit how much she craved the blonde's presence. Her insides stirred while her thoughts ran rampant. It was just a dream. It didn't have to mean anything. She stared up at her best friend, her eyes tracing the strong jaw line and taking in her profile. She let her eyes linger and waited for the flips in her stomach to settle.

It was just a dream.

It didn't have to mean anything.

The guys divided into teams and began actually playing. Matt, Josh, and Scott were on a team. Chase, Adam, and Shawn were on the other. Rachel stayed next to Quinn, only pulling away after a foul that knocked Josh on his ass. Chase had quickly helped him up before Rachel could dart across the court and demand they refrain from violence. Shawn apologized profusely for the foul but did send a small nod in Quinn's direction. The blonde pretended not to notice that her friend had clearly knocked Josh down on her behalf. After about twenty minutes and garnering the attention of most of their cast, they decided to call it a game. Chase, Adam, and Shawn won with Chase's triumphant dunk past a stunned Josh.

"Awesome game, man," Shawn smiled, clapping Chase on the back.

The tall guy ran over and wrapped himself around David who came out to watch.

"Get your sweaty self off me," David complained, when Chase hugged him while laughing.

"A kiss for the winner," Matt smirked, approaching Courtney who rolled her eyes before kissing his cheek.

"You're sweaty and disgusting," Courtney whined.

"Kiss for a winner?" Shawn asked, wrapping Quinn up in a hug.

She laughed and pushed him off, "Yeah right. You're disgusting. You're sweaty and sandy. Plus you stink like a boy."

"I am a boy," Shawn guffawed loudly.

Quinn rolled her eyes and shoved him away again. He laughed and nearly tripped over his own feet, making her giggle.

Rachel wanted to be mad at him for his clearly intentional foul on Josh, but part of her couldn't care about that when he was making Quinn giggle and it made her stomach explode into a thousand angry butterflies.

"I'm done for today. Let's go home," Rachel practically ordered.

Josh shrugged and followed her obediently. Rachel couldn't explain why she felt so sick. The entire week had been confusing and she needed a good night's sleep without any dreams. She needed a glass of wine and a movie with her adoring boyfriend. She…she didn't really know what she needed.

That night when Josh spent three hours on the phone with his mother, Rachel decided to "screw it all" and take the bull by the horns. She called Quinn, invited her over, and was determined to put the dreams out of her mind. If Josh was put out by Quinn's presence in their home, he didn't show it. His eyes widened in surprise when he came out of the bedroom after his phone call to find both girls curled up on the phone with a bottle of wine and Breakfast at Tiffany's. His girlfriend's head in Quinn's lap, cuddled just as closely as she would watch a movie with him. Quinn gave him a small wave and he nodded in return. Rachel watched the exchange with baited breath knowing that things were shifting.