A/N: An update! And you didn't even have to wait for the seasons to change to see it happen. :) Thank you for the reviews and to everybody hanging on despite my sporadic update schedule.

"But what did he say?" Rachel asked between sniffles, as the movie credits rolled up the screen. It had been another successful movie night at the Berry house.

Quinn smiled, "It's not for us to know." She found the other girl's dismay endearing, but was struggling to relabel that endearment to something a little less... Crush-like? Because that is absolutely not possible. And gross, right? "What Bob says to Charlotte is just between them. They made a connection and now we're the outsiders."

Frowning slightly, "But I want to know if they see each other again! This is torturous! I mean, yes, it is in poor taste to engage in an extramarital affair on both their parts, however-"

"Rach? You're thinking about it too hard. Two people found one another during a lonely time in their lives and perhaps they're better for it. The end." Rachel slumped back a little further on the sofa, tucking her feet up. Wiping under her eyes one last time, she gave Quinn a forlorn look. Ugh, don't make that face. Fine, FINE. Letting out a heavy sigh, Quinn offered, "I'm sure they meet again." Rachel looked dubious. "They meet again after making appropriate decisions about their existing relationships, better?"

She was rewarded with a beaming smile-Cute. I mean, not cute. Cute for Rach.-and a nod from the smaller girl, "Yes, I think that would be both responsible and romantic." Both of them surveyed the decimated pizza in silence for a moment while the DVD began looping in the menu. I feel like I should be saying something. Is this awkward silence or just regular silence? I could talk more about the movie, I guess. Maybe the scene where-" ... tomorrow?"

"What?"

"Quinn, were you listening to me at all?"

"I-yes, no. I mean, yes. Sort of?" Crapcrapcrap. "No. I'm sorry, I was spacing out. Please say it again?"

Rachel leaned over and patted Quinn's arm in a condescending way, "It's okay, I'm sure you must be very tired." Quinn glared, which only made Rachel laugh. "I asked if you wanted to do something tomorrow. Maybe coffee again or lunch?"

"Well, I have church-"

The hand retracted, "Oh, I see. No problem. Maybe some other time. Could you hand me your plate? I'll start cleaning up." She sat forward and began reaching toward the table.

That confidence of hers sure waxes and wanes like crazy. "Or you could let me finish. I have church in the morning, so I'm not free until the afternoon. But I'd like to hang out again. I could do coffee or an early dinner."

"Why not both?"

"Sure, yeah. We could go to that café on North Street. Um, Sprouts?"

"You like eating at Sprouts?"

Quinn gave herself a mental high five. And that is why I took the time to write down a list of vegan-friendly food places in Lima. "I've heard of it, but haven't tried it yet. Is it good?"

"It's great! Their soup and sandwich combos are amazing. What time do you want to meet there?"

Okay, let's try this. "How about I pick you up at 4:30?" If I pick her up and pay for dinner, it is absolutely a date.

"Well," Rachel said, smiling as she stood up, "You can pick me, but I get to pay for dinner." Before Quinn could argue, she was already heading to the kitchen with her hands full of plates, humming a tune.

Damn it.

How on earth did it get wedged all the way under there? Quinn was trying to reach her hand under her bed for a stray shoe while still keeping her Sunday best as clean as possible.

"Quinnie, are you ready? We're late!" Her mother's voice drifted up the stairs.

"Coming, Mom!" Quinn really was a punctual person, but she had stayed up late trying to plan all the details for today's dinner with Rachel-what to wear, what to order, how to trick the other girl into letting her pay. Waking up late and not cleaning her room for a few days had her running behind this morning. After some more desperate arm contortions, she managed to link her pinky through the strap and drag the offending footwear out. She was hobbling down the stairs, shoe clutched in one hand, purse in the other, when she felt her phone go off. "Gah!" Almost tripping on the bottom step, she sat to dig out the phone while attempting to put her shoe on with one hand. "Hello?"

"Hey, girl, it's me," which was Mercedes. "Momma wants to know if you want to come over for dinner tonight."

Quinn froze. Shoot. I haven't gone to visit the Joneses in way too long, but I've got dinner with Rach. "I can't tonight, but I will come over soon. I promise. Tell them thank you so much for the offer."

There was a brief pause on the other end, "What are your plans? You got a date?"

Judy was leaning against a wall, arms folded, the very picture of an unhappy mother kept waiting. Well, I can't lie and say I'm hanging out with Mom. Truth will have to do. People are going to figure it out once we start campaigning anyway. That's the point. "Well, I'm getting coffee with Rachel."

"Oh, at the Lima Bean? Maybe I could join you guys, make it a party?"

"Um, no. I mean, we're going to be at Sprouts, not the Bean."

Another pause, "I see." Mercedes voice changed and became alarmingly chipper, "I'm not too crazy about all that vegan food, you two have fun! See ya tomorrow!"

Uh oh. "Yeah, see ya." Quinn finished wrangling her shoe into place and looked at her mother. "Gees, Mother, aren't you ready yet?"

Judy's disapproving look melted into laughter, "I think the Lord sent you to test me. Get in the car."

"You can ask him when we get to church," she called over her shoulder, scooting out the door.

At 4:25pm, Quinn's phone call with Mercedes was the last thing on her mind. She was waiting at the Berry's front step, anxiously rubbing her thumb against an old cheerleading charm on her keyring. The charm was made from some kind of yellow metal in the shape of a megaphone and, like a worry stone, she had worn away much of the depth and coloring that outlined the word "CHEER" inside the silhouette. What if her fathers answer the door? Will they know who I am? Will this be like those scenes in movies where I get some line about a shotgun and a shovel from the protective dad? Can they tell this is a date? Is that part of gaydar?

Relief flooded her when Rachel opened the door, no one else in sight. "Hello, Quinn!"

"Hey, Rach," Quinn gave her a once-over and had to bite her tongue, "Nice jacket."

Rachel was wearing a McKinley letterman jacket, just slightly large for the petite girl. Similar to her football jersey, this, too, had been attacked by a BeDazzler. "Isn't it wonderful? It was going to be a surprise when I wore it to class on Monday, but I thought it might be chilly tonight, so why not wear it now? Go Titans!"

All of her self-mastery went into containing her laughter. That is such a ridiculously Rachel Berry jacket. I wonder if she had to special order the star-shaped jewels for the cuffs. "Go Titans," she smiled. It was a genuine smile. "You're a very enthusiastic quarterback."

"Thank you, I try. If you would like, I can add some glamor to your letterman jacket sometime."

She shrugged and made her way over to her car, "I don't really wear it anymore. After quitting Cheerios and all." Thinking about the team and all of her scheming up to this moment made Quinn go quiet. She even forgot to get Rachel's door, which had been a starred item on her list of things to make tonight feel like a date.

Once they were buckled in and driving toward dinner, Rachel ventured a quiet apology. "I'm sorry to bring up a negative memory, Quinn. I wasn't really thinking."

"No, it's fine." Rachel was watching Quinn drive; Quinn was keeping her eyes on the road. At a traffic signal, Quinn continued, "It wasn't that hard to quit. It was and it wasn't. I don't miss Coach Sylvester, she was pretty awful to us." The other girl nodded, but didn't speak, afraid she would interrupt the moment. "But I was pretty awful to everybody else, so it made sense to me. The structure of it. I think I'm actually happier in Glee." Finally, she glanced over, "But you don't need to tell anybody I said that."

Smiling sadly, Rachel simply said, "Sure," and then both girls were quiet until arriving at their destination.

Quinn didn't snap out of her introspection until she heard Rachel's car door open. Shoot! I didn't her door and I just captained the moodiest car ride in history. I can just hear Coach's mocking voice now, "Outstanding." To make up for the failed car ride, Quinn added a little pep to her stride so she could hold the door to Sprout's open for Rachel. They picked a table along a wall on the gallery side of the café under some confusing but attractive local artwork. A girl with more exciting hair than Quinn was used to took their order and disappeared. A few minutes went by while they took in the atmosphere of the building. Some mismatched furniture, soft hipster music in the background, a spot in the corner that probably served as a stage on busier nights.

Attempting to keep things lighter than they had been in the car, Quinn tried some easy conversation. "What do you think Mr. Schue's crazy assignment will be next week?"

"Oh, who knows? I just hope it isn't another 80s band tribute week."

"I know, right?" the blonde laughed, "I'm waiting for the day he tells us we all have to do Van Halen."

"Goodness!" Rachel spread out her hands in presentation, "Guest performer, Ms. Pillsbury singing 'Hot for Teacher' to Mr. Schuester!" They were both continuing to crack up over this image when their drinks arrived.

At a table kitty-corner and slightly behind a counter from the two girls, who were now eating food and carrying on a pleasant conversation, sat two boys. One of them was dressed like a very fashionable and somewhat effeminate private detective-fitted trench coat with upturned collar and Lady Gaga sunglasses. The other boy was wearing a much less conspicuous jacket with a cheery scarf and a frown.

"Explain to me again what we're doing?" Blaine asked.

Kurt had propped up a menu along the edge of the table and was texting furiously to Mercedes. "We're just," he waved one hand quickly before returning it to his phone, "keeping an eye on them."

"We're spying on your friends."

"It's not spying."

"So if we're not spying, why are you dressed like Inspector Clouseau?"

Kurt looked up, "Wait, Peter Sellers or Steve Martin?"

"Peter Sellers. Now, will you answer my question?"

Pushing "send" on his most recent gossip update, he set down the cell with a huff. "It's not spying, okay? This is a very delicate situation. I don't expect you to fully understand since you're new to this scene," Blaine's eyebrows raised comically. "There was some very bad blood between these two, and Mercedes and I have taken a special interest. For their protection, that's all."

"Their protection? Rachel and Quinn?"

"Yes. We don't want to see anyone get hurt."

"They're just eating sandwiches."

A quick series of vibrations on the table and Kurt's head was hunched over the phone once more. "You just don't understand."

Blaine looked over at the girls and back at Kurt. "This is silly." No answer. Shaking his head, he made a decision. "Call it what you like, it's spying and it's immature. If you're so concerned about your friends, here's what we'll do." Mid-text, Blaine stood up, took Kurt by the arm and pulled him up out of his chair-"Stop it! Stop it! They'll see us!" He then marched them both directly to the table being surveyed, Kurt hissing under his breath the entire way.

"Good evening, ladies. Mind if we join you?"

Quinn and Rachel were both startled to see Blaine with a very surly looking Kurt beside him. Rachel recovered first and waved them into seats, "Of course! I didn't know anyone else I knew ate here. Blaine, are you vegan?"

Immediately taking a seat and offering a charming smile, Blaine said, "I'm not, but I hear they have some of the best sandwiches in town." He and Rachel started an exchange about the food while Kurt straightened his outfit and slowly removed his sunglasses before sitting.

"Hi, Quinn."

"Kurt. Funny seeing you here," Quinn gave him a hard look. What exactly are you doing here?

He sniffed, "I could say the same thing." Rachel and Blaine seemed unaware of the labored greeting and continued chatting amicably.

Well, that certainly made the night more gay, but even less like a date. Quinn was waiting by her car while Rachel said goodnight one more time to their surprise dinner guests. Kurt had been awkward for a while, but eventually loosened up. She still suspected he was up to something-I mean, honestly, sunglasses at night?-but she wasn't sure what the motive was. Mercedes tipped him off, of course. Should I call her out on it or will I have too much to explain myself? Their plan obviously backfired because of Blaine, I bet she doesn't bring it up.

"That was such a fun evening!" Rachel came bouncing over to the car, a grin on her face.

"Yeah, it was fun." Quinn drove and listened quietly while Rachel rehashed topics from dinner. She had some new information to add to her Berry Be Mine plan. Some films Rachel wanted to see, she knew how to crotchet- "Stars are a much more complicated shape than most people realize!"- and she disliked the taste of artificial grape. Pulling into the Berry driveway, Quinn had more or less given up on this night ending in any kind of a date-like exchange. Better luck next time, Fabray.

"Thank you for the ride and the pleasant evening, Quinn. I had a really good time," Rachel was unbuckling her seat belt, Quinn stayed put.

"You bet. I had fun, too."

Now facing the blonde, "I'm glad we're doing this." Looking over, Quinn watched Rachel gesture at the space in between them. "Spending time together. I think it's very good for teammates to support and get to know one another."

Excited at first to hear that Rachel enjoyed being around her, the feeling dropped a little. She means Glee, getting to know me is good for Glee club. Why does that feel so disappointing? It's not like I can't work with that inside my prom plan. "Right," she tried smiling.

Impulsive as ever, Rachel sprang into a hug inside the car. The gesture was slightly mangled when the smaller girl became entangled with Quinn's seat belt, causing it crush the blonde uncomfortably. When Rachel released her, she was a little out of breath-Because of the seat belt.

"Um, also, it's just nice to spend time with you for you. I mean, since we're trying to be friends, right?"

Say something back. Say something, anything. "Yeah." Okay, maybe should have said more than that. She shook her head lightly, "Yeah, I like this, too. Us being friends."

They smiled at each other and Rachel excused herself from the car, heading to her door. Quinn watched the other girl sort through her keyring for a moment and then glanced around the interior of her car. On the passenger seat, there was a star-shaped jewel caught on the upholstery. She picked it up and turned back to the door, thinking to roll down her window and shout to Rachel, but she was already inside. I'll give it back some other time, she thought, and slipped the small gem into her purse.