A/N: So sorry for the delayed update, guys; been really busy with school, and since I'm behind all the class work, I'd have to work extra hard to keep my grades up.

Now on to the story.

Rachel was currently on break from her Dance 101 class, when her phone rang. She answered it immediately, without bothering to look at the caller ID. "Hello?"

"Rach, hey it's me, Santana."

"San, hey! Where are you?"

Santana said, "I'm just at the loft and I have a surprise for you."

That really got the tiny dancer curious, so she asked, "Oh yeah? What's that?"

Santana laughed. "Well it wouldn't be a surprise if I tell you about it now, right?"

Rachel pouted at that, though Santana couldn't see it. "Right. I'm just curious, is all."

Rachel pleaded, "Can't you give me just a lil' bit of a hint?"

Rachel could almost hear the smirk in Santana's voice as she heard the Latina reply, "Nope, not telling."

"Fine, I'll figure it out for myself then." Rachel challenged.

"Well, good luck with that, Rach." Santana teased her on the other end.

"Schwimmer! Break is over! Less gossiping, more dancing!" Rachel heard her mean dance teacher Cassandra July, scold her, upon seeing her on the phone.

"Yes, Ms. July, I'll be right there." Rachel said and then sighed, whispering to Santana, "Hey, I'll call you later, 'kay? I'm late for class."

"Oh okay, sorry for getting you into trouble." Santana whispered back.

Rachel assured her, "No worries, San. Bye."

Santana said, "Bye Rach."

Rachel thought to herself: 'This is going to be a long day.' She sighed, put on a brave face, and danced the waltz with her instructor, Brody Weston. He's a junior, majoring in musical theatre the same as she; he was the first guy she met here—her first friend—in New York and she can't believe she forgot to tell Santana that. She guessed she was just too focused on her being here.

A while later, after school Brody went up to her. "Hey Rachel."

"Hey Brody," Rachel replied. "Thanks for being a great dance partner."

Brody assured her, "Don't mention it, I'm happy to oblige."

"I thought juniors weren't allowed in Dance 101," Rachel said, in a non-judging way.

Brody replied, "It's cool. Ms. July let me help her with the freshmen." He started observing her look, from up to down.

Rachel gazed at him, this weird look in her eyes. "What?"

"Nothing. I was just wondering… what do you say if I say maybe… you should get a makeover?"

"Well, I'd say why not? I mean, it's a good thing, right? What's that thing people say; you haven't officially "arrived" or something until you had a makeover?"

"Yes, my thoughts exactly." Brody said and gave her a little pat on the back. "So, I'll see you tomorrow and maybe see the new Rachel?"

Rachel smiled, "That's a promise." Brody smiled, and with a wave in Rachel's direction, he went back to the dance room.

Rachel whipped her phone out to text Santana.

Major emergency.

What's wrong?

Help me get a makeover, STAT.

Wait, shouldn't you be asking Kurt about this? He's in Lima right now, but I'm sure he'll be glad to help you. I mean he did it once, right? ;)

San, you're not helping. :( Are you in or what?

Okay, calm down Rachel, I was just kidding. I'm in. Just tell me where and I'm there.

Rachel texted Santana the details and together they went to the mall and shopped for Rachel's new clothes at Forever 21, Abercrombie and Fitch, and Candie's. Santana then brought Rachel to a nearby salon and Rachel got her hair styled differently, sleek, shiny, and straight but with curls at the end and she also had it colored—she was now a brunette with blonde streaks—and lastly, she got her eyebrows waxed and got it more defined.

After their shopping trip, they went to have dinner at BreadstiX, where else? (Santana just couldn't resist her breadsticks and pesto pasta and Rachel her meat-substitute pasta.) They had a little argument on who would pay. Rachel insisted she would, but Santana wouldn't take no for an answer, so Rachel gave in.

Santana paid the check and then the two girls were out of there. The two girls started the walk to their apartment. Rachel said with a pout, "Let me foot the bill next time, Santana. You didn't have to do that."

Santana dismissed Rachel's statement with a wave of her hand, "No worries, Rachel. I can cover dinner for me and you and you don't have to worry 'bout a thing."

Rachel said, curiosity palpable in her voice, "But we're roommates and friends, Santana. I can't ask that of you every time we go out."

Santana sighed. Why won't Rachel just let this go? "I'm insisting. And do you remember when I told you that I'd make it all up to you?"

"Yeah, but that's not the point—" Rachel started, but Santana cut her off. "And do you remember what I told you this morning? That I have a surprise for you?"

Rachel nodded, but said nothing, so Santana continued. "Well, okay. I want you to listen and not say anything until I'm finished, got it?" Rachel nodded again.

"Okay so here it is: I got into NYU this fall, but I deferred, because I was trying to find myself first and figure out what I really want to do with my life. I'll attend next September, though. And that's not all. I also got a job as a barista at Starbucks downtown. That's my surprise, er, surprises."

Rachel processed everything for a minute or two, before finally saying, "That is so amazing, San! I'm happy for you, I'm so happy for you!" She doesn't know what came over her, but she hugged the Latina.

Santana hugged her closer. "Thanks Rachel, I'm glad you're happy about this."

When they pulled away, Rachel shouted, not even bothering to hide her enthusiasm, "A celebration is in order!"

Santana just laughed and nodded at Rachel's adorableness and her awesome suggestion.

A/N: Didn't really proofread this, so sorry for spelling and grammar mistakes. Story continued on next chapter.