A/N: Hey guys. I think my chapter average will be about 2000 words. If I tell you there is a long chapter expect 2300+ and if there is a short one 1600-. Only a rough guideline but you get the idea.

This chapter is about the Quinn and Rachel confrontation. Chapter end on bit of a cliff hanger, sorry.:P

Next chapter will be Wednesday... I hope.
Please keep reading and reviewing like you have been, this chapter is starting from Quinn's POV.

-/-

Quinn woke up with a head ache and a sticky face. It had been a long night. She looked over to her mirror and wasn't surprised in the least by what she saw looking back. She looked how she felt, like a complete wreck. Her hair was sticking up at odd angles, her eyes were bloodshot and trails of tears could be seen on her cheeks.

She decided that she had better have a shower and get herself ready for school. She would let herself cry at home and feel bad, but she was not going to allow any evidence of these types of actions when she was at school. If she and Rachel were going to be seen at school as friends, Quinn needed to stay on top to ensure she brought Rachel up and not let Rachel drag her down.

When Quinn had finally finished getting ready she assessed herself critically in her mirror again. She still didn't look great but decided there wasn't really much more she could do. She got in her car after having breakfast, in which her mum had a bit more tact and didn't pursue the conversation they had had last night. When she got to school she realised she was about 15 minutes earlier than usual but decided it was better than just hanging around the house.

She went to her locker when she heard a voice from behind her.

"Hey Quinn."

Quinn turned around to see Rachel staring at her. She looked slightly nervous.

"Hi Rachel. Sorry I couldn't talk to you last night." Quinn said in a falsely cheery voice that hoped would go by unnoticed. Unfortunately for Quinn, it didn't.

"Was it something I said? No wait; I was being too pushy wasn't I?" Quinn was amazed how fast Rachel started assuming that it was something she had done. It also made her feel terrible.

"No Rach, don't worry. It was nothing you did."

"But it has something to do with me doesn't it?"

Quinn knew Rachel would take her silence as a yes, but still didn't want to lie or hurt the diva so she was left with little alternative.

"What is it? You can tell me Quinn."

Quinn closed her eyes. She knew she had to say it and she knew it was going to be hard. She took a deep breath before speaking.

"My mum made a really good point yesterday and it really hurt me that it was true, but more so that it was all my fault."

Rachel remained silent so Quinn explained.

"My mum said that the only reason you are willing to be my friend is because you are so lonely from the things that I have to you."

As hard as she tried, she couldn't hold back the tears that were now starting to seep through her closed eyelids.

"I'm so sorry Rachel. I never knew how lonely I was making you. You deserve a real friend who won't ever be mean to you."

She opened her eyes and turned to leave when she felt a hand grasp her own.

"It's okay Quinn. I still want to be your friend. Please don't go away."

Rachel pulled Quinn in and hugged the cheerleader. Quinn hugged back with more emotion she had ever done with anything. She had really needed this. She needed to know that Rachel was willing to give her a chance even though she had been awful to the diva. More than anything she needed to know that Rachel was just there.

When Rachel pulled away Quinn was disappointed, she had really felt comfortable, but when there was no longer any contact between the two Quinn suddenly felt very self-conscience. She had just been hugging Rachel Berry and crying on her! She was glad that she had come in early because there weren't too many people around.

She wasn't ashamed of Rachel but knew that they would be a source of ridicule if she didn't show it more slowly. They probably should just be seen together talking and being friends before they hugged like besties.

"So are you okay Quinn? Will you still be my friend?"

Oh my God. As if Rachel thought that after that hug that there was any chance she didn't want to be friends. For Quinn the hug was electrifying and it had made her feel much better.

"Are you serious Rachel? I was scared that you wouldn't want to be my friend because I was so mean to you. I still want to be your friend if you will let me."

"Of course Quinn."

Quinn pulled Rachel into another quick hug. She was becoming a bit self conscience not only about the fact that she was hugging Rachel, but the fact that she needed the other girl's touch to ease her worries.

"Talk to you later okay?"

Quinn smiled.

"Of course. I'll give you a lift home at the end of the day. Wait for me okay?"

Without waiting for an answer Quinn walked away to go find a bathroom. She knew she must look terrible again and that was just something she would not put up with.

-/-Rachel POV

Rachel was overjoyed and was starting to feel a bit guilty about it. She had not only just realised how bad Quinn felt for being mean to her, but she also got to comfort the cheerleader. And now she was even getting a lift home from Quinn. She knew she shouldn't be feeling this good in her friend's pain, but what are you going to do?

She hated to admit it but it felt really good having Quinn in her arms but knew that there would be a stage in their relationship where doing it spontaneously would be acceptable but that time was definitely not yet. Rachel could feel her fears about the cheerleader melting away but she tried to keep at least some of them there. Even if it was a long shot Rachel knew that there was always the possibility that Quinn could turn on her and be worse than ever.

She felt she needed to remember that just in case something did go wrong. After all, she only accepted Quinn's friendship yesterday and it was only really a trial run.

Even after reminding herself all of this Rachel still couldn't get the smile off her face. But, then again, she wasn't sure if she wanted to. As she went through her locker, Rachel heard a voice in her ear.

"What's got you so happy today Rachel?"

Rachel turned to see Kurt standing next to her. He was sporting a small smile of his own.

"I just feel good today. What about you?"

Rachel didn't really didn't think Quinn wanted everyone to know they were friends yet. It had only been a day she reminded herself. Besides, she and Quinn needed to trust each other more before they had to deal with everyone knowing, even if most of the glee club saw yesterday's arguments.

Rachel was only half listening to Kurt so she only heard a few words such as 'Blaine' and 'glee'. She was too busy wondering what life would be like when she and Quinn became good friends. If. If we become good friends, Rachel reminded herself for about the thousandth time today.

Sooner that Rachel had expected it was lunch. She had had a fun day so far. The morning had left her elated so it was almost as if she was on auto-pilot. She had her grin since the morning until she was putting her books in her locker and getting her lunch.

She saw Karofsky coming towards her, slushy ready in his hand. She knew that he was going to come straight for her; it had been too good a day for nothing bad to happen. But then again she would take a slushy in the face any day for having Quinn cry on her shoulder. Okay, maybe that was a little creepy.

Karofsky reached Rachel and readied the slushy in his hand. Rachel prepared by closing her eyes and moving her lunch to behind her back, she would still need to eat after this. Rachel braced herself for the impact. She heard the noise of slushy connecting with skin, a sound she knew all too well, but she felt nothing. She heard gasping and laughter.

Rachel summoned her courage and opened her left eye a fraction too see what had happened. In front of her was Karofsky drenched in the blue ice and Quinn standing next to him looking pretty smug.

"Fabray! What the hell?"

It looked as though Karofsky had finally found his voice after the initial shock of being hit with his own slushy.

"You don't touch her. Got it?"

Karofsky's face was a mixture of confusion and fury. He seemed to decide to act on his fury.

"You don't tell me what I can or can't do. Anyway, since when do you care about this... thing?" He said gesturing at Rachel.

Okay... ouch.

"You'll stop talking right now if you know what's good for you." Quinn stated her eyes firing up and she looked completely lethal.

"Why should I? The hobbit gets what it deserves."

That appeared to put Quinn over the edge. She grabbed him by the collar and slammed him into the lockers.

"Take that back. NOW!"

Where such strength had come from, Rachel didn't know. She knew the cheerio's had to be strong, but this was just ridiculous. Karofsky looked like someone was holding a gun to his head, even though Quinn did have her fists at his throat, Rachel reasoned.

"Take it back." Quinn repeated.

"Okay, okay, I take it back."

"Now you do anything to Rachel again and you will not be as lucky as you have been this time."

Quinn released her grip and he took off, literally running away. Rachel watched as Quinn turned to her. Rachel spoke first.

"Thank-you Quinn. That was very nice thing to do."

"He won't be bothering you anymore Rach. It probably wouldn't have been needed if I wasn't ever mean to you like I was."

Not this again. She wasn't going to let Quinn feel bad again.

"No Quinn. You aren't going to think like that. You just helped me. You didn't make things bad, okay. You just made things better. I'm just sorry that now he might try and get revenge on you."

"Trust me, he won't. And now he will hopefully have enough common sense to stay away before I really hurt him. Or get Santana to. Anyway, do you want to grab some lunch?"

Rachel couldn't believe it. Not only had Quinn just gotten rid of one of her bullies in an actual rage, but was now, 30 seconds later, nervous about asking o have lunch with her.

"Yes sure."

"Okay let's go then."

-/-

At the end of the day, Rachel could swear she had never wanted the bell to go so badly. She knew it was only going to be for a couple of minutes, but she really liked being with Quinn, her friend, who actually even stands up for her with no regard for herself.

When the bell went Rachel was out of the room in a flash and quick at her locker. When she had everything she needed, she started to Quinn's locker. They met about halfway between their lockers and moved on to Quinn's car. On the drive to Rachel's she even felt comfortable enough to pick the music without Quinn's permission.

Sadly, the drive was over all too soon. Before she knew what she was saying Rachel had already blurted it out.

"Will you come inside today?"

She hated the desperation and pleading in her voice and knew it was a bad idea but she couldn't really take it back. She felt even more regret when she saw the hesitation in Quinn's eyes.

"You don't have to if you don't want to. I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

She watched as Quinn took a deep breath.

"No, I want to. Let's go meet your parents.