A.N: So... sorry this took a week. Life can suck. When one plans a fanfiction one does not plan on one's mother having emergency surgery. She's ok. Which is why you are getting a chapter and not a long A.N. declaring that I can't function as a writer without my mommy. I'm not even joking. On a more pleasant note I hope everyone enjoys this.

A.N2: I have figured out where this fic is going and its sequals... the Next one will be called "Puck and Rachel's Excellent Adventure."

Tuesday January 12, 2010

6:54 P.M.

"I just don't see how you are suddenly BFFs with Rachel!" Mercedes' voice was higher than usual and, not for the first time, Quinn wondered at the fact that Rachel was the assumed Super Diva of Glee club.

Kurt and Mercedes had been arguing the entire ride to Kurt's house and Quinn was starting to get irritated. She liked Mercedes, in another time the girl had been her best friend, but she had always taken issue with Mercedes dislike of Rachel, albeit silently.

Kurt, who Quinn would have once declared Rachel's most unlikely defender, was getting annoyed "The truth is complicated ok Mercedes, and I can be friends with whoever I want to be friends with."

Mercedes glowered at his bitchy tone, "I'm not telling you not to be friends with her, I'm asking why you are in the first place."

Kurt was silent.

Mercedes huffed, "I mean I get that having friends seems to be good for her, she's way less annoying, and she seems calmer but how do you put up with her?" She turned to look at Quinn, "How do you put up with her? You've hated her since she moved here."

Kurt let out an exasperated huff, "Rachel is great. She's an amazing friend; it's just that no one has ever given her a chance."

Mercedes reared back a little and asked quietly, "You really care about her don't you?"

Kurt nodded, "I do. More than I'd realized. I'm…" He sighed and then summoned his courage, "I'm not asking that you become her sister from another mister tomorrow Mercedes, but I am asking that you give her a chance, for my sake. I mean you gave Quinn a chance."

Mercedes shrugged, "Quinn isn't nearly as annoying."

The blonde in question snapped, "Stop insulting her."

Mercedes jerked around to look at her, "See that! That right there, when did you decide to defend her instead of torture her?"

Quinn winced slightly at the reminder of her past treatment of Rachel but remained silent. She would have liked to tell Mercedes about her feelings but she couldn't, not yet. Mercedes, this Mercedes, was not her friend, not really, and she was a gossip. The last thing Quinn wanted was for the entire school to find out about her feelings for Rachel. Finn would have a stroke and Santana was libel to have coronary. It wasn't that she intended to hide, it just wasn't the time, and Mercedes was that friend.

Quinn finally spoke, "I… I don't have an answer for you Mercedes, but I'm with Kurt. Try and give her a chance."

Mercedes gave a dramatic sigh, "Fine, God. I'll give her a chance."

Wednesday January 27, 2010

2:34 P.M.

Quinn was seriously considering setting the school on fire. She liked Madonna as much as the next repressed white girl but good god it got old. Two days of Madonna and she was ready to snap. Math class was horrible. How in the hell was she supposed to participate in Pre-Cal when Madonna was blaring over head?

She leaned back and closed her eyes as the teacher let out an exasperated huff, "I give up." The little old woman, who had always reminded Quinn of Betty White, muttered "I loathe you Sue Sylvester."

"Psst… Q." Quinn ignored Santana.

The Latina was nothing if not persistent, "Tubbers! Hey I'm talking to you."

Quinn hissed, "What, S?"

"What's up with you and Man-Hands?" Quinn could actually hear the smirk in Santana's voice.

Quinn opened her eyes and scowled at ceiling, "We're friends Santana."

The blonde heard Santana scoff "Please Q… what's the game? You can tell me you know what ever scam you're running on Berry, I can help."

Quinn said flatly, "There's no game San."

Santana snapped back, "Please, you expect me to believe that this isn't some game to you? You're going to hurt Berry."

Quinn slowly turned around, "Why do you want to know Santana, why are you so eager to hurt Rachel," She raised an eyebrow, "Coach tell you to?"

Santana narrowed her eyes, "Whatever Quinn, I don't buy this sudden change."

Quinn snarled back, "It must kill you, Rachel being happy. It must gall Sue. You can't use Finn to hurt her."

Santana glared as Quinn spun back around, triumphant. The former Cheerio missed the nasty smirk that blossomed over Santana's face.

3:50 P.M.

Quinn starred in abject horror. Jesse St. James stood in their choir room, as their newest member.

Santana spoke with conviction, "He's a spy Mr. Schue! I would know."

Finn added his two cents, "What the hell? Why do we need a new male lead?"

It was Rachel who got to the meat of the matter "Why? Why would you do this?"

Jesse stepped forward, "You mean besides my parent's moving?"

Rachel scowled, "Obviously…"

He smiled gently at her, "I want to know you Rachel, to sing with you and I know that would never happen if I was on the opposing team."

Quinn cut her gaze to Rachel and nearly sagged in relief. The little Diva looked more than skeptical. It might have been that Jesse's gaze flickered over to Kurt for the barest of moments. Quinn saw the Songbird's eyes narrow just slightly before she sat down and huffed.

Thursday January 28, 2010

12:33 P.M.

Quinn knew something was wrong at lunch. Rachel who had taken to sitting next to her had wedged herself between Finn and Puck. The former was ecstatic, the latter was confused. Rachel hadn't met her eyes once and answered in monosyllables when Quinn tried talking to her. Quinn knew she needed to be patient but it was hard when all she wanted to do was shake Rachel and demand an explanation.

Quinn might have been placated if Rachel was ignoring everyone but she wasn't. She answered Kurt pleasantly enough, albeit in a subdued manner, she was friendly with Mercedes and she certainly seemed fine with Puck and Finn.

Kurt kept throwing her questioning glances but all Quinn could do was shrug helplessly.

The feeling in her stomach intensified when she spied the malicious smirk on Santana's face.

4:01 P.M.

It came to a head in Glee, "Mr. Schue I respectfully request that the blocking for this number be changed. I find it difficult to be near… certain people."

Quinn threw down her sheet music and snapped, "Alright that is it! What is your deal Rachel? You've been weird all day!"

Rachel didn't meet her eyes, "As if you don't know." Quinn was taken aback by the raw pain in Rachel voice.

She softened instantly and stepped towards Rachel, "Rachel… what's wrong? Talk to me."

Rachel finally looked up and the club tensed.

The little Diva had very real tears in her eyes, "When were you going to tell me, when I…? When it would hurt the most?"

Quinn was completely lost, "Tell you what Rachel? What are you talking about?" She tried to place a hand on Rachel's shoulder only to have the brunette lurch back abruptly.

"Don't! Don't pretend to care! I know ok? I know that it was just some game, that I was just some game." Rachel let out a humorless slightly hysterical laugh, "As if anyone, let alone the great and mighty Quinn Fabray could ever l…" She cut herself off.

Quinn didn't care who was watching, "You aren't a game! Who told yo…"

Rachel nearly screamed, "Stop pretending! I heard! I heard them talking about me, about how you planned this to break m…" She faltered and pressed a hand to her mouth. Her eyes welled and Quinn wanted nothing to more than to take Rachel in her arms and possibly punch whoever put all this crap in Rachel's head.

Rachel didn't want that though, she whispered "We're done Quinn… I lo… We are done."

Rachel turned on her heel and tore from the Choir room.

Quinn made to follow her but Kurt stopped her, "Let me Quinn." He followed his fellow diva from the room.

Quinn felt like the earth was gone from beneath her feet as she turned to face her team mates. Finn had an angry snarl on his face and even Puck look furious with her. It hurt that they thought her capable of it. She went down the line of glee kids and finally reached Santana.

The Latina had never looked so smug.

Quinn took a step, "Santana?"

Santana tilted her head, "Q."

Quinn swallowed, "Did you… did you tell Rachel that crap?"

Santana shook her head, "No."

Some of the tension drained from Quinn… and then Santana continued, "She may have overheard me talking about it with some of the Cheerios though."

Quinn's fists clenched and she must have looked scary because the club drew in a collective breath.

Quinn let out a pained gasp, "Why…? Why would you do that?"

Santana shrugged and examined her nails, "Why not?" She shouldn't have taken her eyes off Quinn.

She never saw the fist coming.

4:07 P.M.

"Rachel!" Kurt caught Rachel before she made it down the hallway. He grabbed her arm and held fast.

She struggled weakly, "Please Kurt! I need to go. I have to get away…"

Kurt shook his head, "It isn't true Rachel! I promise you it isn't true. She loves you ok? She loves you."

Rachel shook her head, "No. She doesn't! She can't. Why isn't she here then? Why didn't she follow me?"

Kurt pulled her closer to him and whispered urgently, "Think about it sweetie. You wouldn't listen to her, not right now. Who put that bull in your head?"

Rachel let out a breath, "Santana…" A second later the two divas heard a crash from the Choir room. They looked at each other in alarm and then hurried back. Kurt threw open the door and the two divas were met with a shocking sight. Quinn was on top of Santana, on hand was buried in her hair and seemed like it would tear it from her skull. The other hand was balled into a fist, and was being repeatedly aimed at the Latina's face.

Rachel let out a gasp as Puck and Finn dragged Quinn off of Santana.

The former Cheerio fought like she was possessed, "If I've lost my chance I will end you Lopez! I swear to god I will!"

Santana's hands were cradling her face, "What the hell Fabray! Have you gone crazy! You attacked my ass over RuPaul!"

Quinn shrieked, "Don't call her that!"

Santana screamed back, "What is your freaking deal Q!"

Quinn surged forward but was held fast by Puck and Finn. Kurt for one was concerned about the baby.

Rachel approached slowly, "Quinn?"

Quinn's focus was so locked on Santana that she didn't seem to notice the little brunette until she was right in front of her.

Santana let out a disgusted huff, "You see Fabray she such a doormat that she's back."

Rachel surprised everyone and spun around, "Shut up Santana!"

The Latina reared back a little, "Who…"

Rachel held up a hand, "I'm talking now." Her scowl was intense, "Was it true…? What I heard."

Santana shrugged, "What do you think?"

Rachel snarled back, "I'm asking for a straight answer, I think I know… but I want them to hear it." She indicated the rest of the club.

Santana lifted her chin and remained silent until, "San?" The Latina turned her head to look at Brittany and winced, the tall blonde looked disappointed, "Tell the truth San."

Santana deflated completely and spoke, "No… it wasn't true." The tension left Rachel's body completely as she dismissed Santana and turned back to Quinn.

She snapped at the two boys still holding her, "Let her go." The two boys dropped Quinn's arms like she was on fire and backed away.

Quinn held up a hand to stop Rachel when the little diva stepped closer.

She asked quietly, "Can… can we go somewhere else," Her gaze flickered around the room and their teammates, "Somewhere private?"

Rachel nodded and offered her hand. Quinn just lowered her head and hefted her back pack before slipping from the room. Rachel followed her.

4:18 P.M.

The car was silent, oppressively so.

Quinn drove them to Rachel's without asking and followed the little diva in to her home.

Rachel opened her mouth to speak only to be cut off, "Do you… you still don't trust me do you?" Now that the terror of Rachel's anger had passed, Quinn acknowledged her own hurt.

Rachel was quiet for a moment before she wrapped her arms around herself, "It isn't about trusting you, not really. It's…" She choked a bit on the next words, "It's about me. I'm not… I'm not pretty Quinn. I don't understand why you care about me, I guess if I'm honest I've been waiting for the other shoe to drop and hit me in the face. I'm obnoxious and bossy, and I want things too much, none of those qualities are attractive and yet you claim to love me."

Quinn stated firmly, "I do love you. I have since 7th grade, since the moment I saw you place a gold star next to your name after the teacher put your name on the board for talking too much."

Rachel's jaw dropped, "Since 7th grade? But you've always…" She trailed off.

Quinn finished quietly, "Been horrible to you? Yeah, I know. I… didn't want to like you Rachel, you're a girl, and so am I. My parents would have strokes if they knew I liked a girl… so I treated you like crap. I called you names and had you slushied because it was easier to make you hate me than to know that I couldn't be your friend."

Rachel's eyes were soft, "I never hated you Quinn… I didn't always like how you treated me, but I never hated you." She stepped closer and took Quinn's hand.

Rachel whispered sincerely, "I'm sorry I believed Santana's lies."

Quinn tugged Rachel forward and replied just as softly, "I'm sorry that somewhere in our pasts I left the door open for those kinds of lives."

The two girls simply stood close to each other for a few minutes, absorbing each others' warmth. As the moments ticked by they gravitated closer to each other until Quinn threaded her fingers with Rachel's and let out a sigh.

"I thought… I thought I lost you." Quinn fought the tears that were threatening to spill over.

Rachel shook her head "I'm sorry Quinn… I should have been willing to listen." She lifted her hand and pressed it to Quinn's cheek.

Quinn's head lifted to peer into Rachel's eyes, "Rachel?"

The brunette shifted even closer, "Hmm?"

"Were you going to tell me that you loved me? Back in the Choir room." Quinn couldn't breathe.

Rachel took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, "Yes…"

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