AN: So Quinn and Rachel obviously didn't go to the same high school but everything important that happened to them still happened, just with different people… It may get confusing but hopefully I'll describe it well enough. But for example, Finn went to Rachel's school (McKinley) and they dated as per the show, however everything that happened between Finn and Quinn happens in her school but with a guy who isn't Finn and I think I'm going to call their parallels by the actor's names, so the Finn in Quinn's school will be Cory, the Santana in Rachel's school will be Naya etc but obviously some things will happen differently otherwise it would just be weird, the same exact things happening in two different schools.

Anyway, read and review :)

Chapter 2

"Woah Q, calm down."

I instantly stop my nervous ranting and turn to my best friend.

"Calm down?" I laugh. "How can I calm down? I'm going on a potential date with my celebrity crush!"

"Exactly, potential. Talk me through exactly what's happening. Where are you going?"

I gulp. "She's cooking, to avoid paparazzi."

"Yep, sure sounds like a date." Santana laughs.

"Thanks that was so helpful, can I continue panicking now?"

"No." The Latina claims, grabbing me by the shoulders. "Think about how lucky you are right now Q, how often does this happen?"

"What? Me going on a date?"

"Well I wasn't going to say that but yes. Though I meant anyone going on a date with a celebrity, let alone one they have a massive crush on."

"Gee that makes me feel a lot better thanks." I reply sarcastically.

Santana just releases a sigh. "You're so difficult. Why can't you just let go and enjoy life?"

"Because you know what happened last time I did that." I point out, gesturing to the toybox in the corner.

"You realise that can't happen with Rachel right?" My housemate jokes.

I roll my eyes at her comment before retreating into my room to think.

"San…" I shout half an hour later.

"Yeah?" She shouts back.

"What do I wear?"

The Latina shortly appears in my bedroom doorway, a light smirk on her lips.

"Nothing over the top in case it isn't a date." I say before she can voice her opinions.

"Killjoy." She mutters. "Well then I guess your cute, ripped jeans and a shirt?"

"You want me to wear jeans in the summer?"

"Ripped jeans, there's a difference, plus you asked for my help, don't turn down my ideas."

"Idea. Not ideas." I correct.

"Actually I had multiple ideas but you said nothing over the top. Just wear the damn jeans."

"I thought they were ripped jeans." I tease.

"I'm out." Santana huffs, turning to leave.

"No wait, one more question." I pause until she's turned round. "What do I do with my hair?"

"Tie it up, you fiddle with it when it's loose and it'll only make you seem more nervous. Plus will take you back to our cheerleading days." She winks.

"Okay." I nod then grab the suggested outfit and enter my bathroom.

I hesitate outside the door to Rachel's apartment, lifting my hand to knock only to then let it fall back down to my side. I repeat this action several times, while pacing slightly from left to right. It's around the sixth time I've chickened out that I hear a giggle from inside the apartment.

I glance around confused until I catch sight of a small camera in the top right of the doorway.

Blushing sheepishly I finally knock on the door which immediately opens, revealing a smirking Rachel.

My embarrassment soon fades as I glimpse what the actress is wearing. She stands there in a very tight black halter neck top and jean shorts that show off her tan legs. My eyes roam from her wavy brown hair all the way down to her bare toes.

She clears her throat lightly and my eyes immediately snap back up to her own shining eyes.

I feel a smile creep onto my face but I can't seem to find any words.

"Hey." The brunette greets. "How long would you have stood there if I hadn't seen you?"

"Who knows?" I laugh, thankful she started a conversation. "You are officially my saviour. Though why do you have a camera?"

"I sometimes get stalkers turning up in the middle of the night, so stopped answering the door after dark but then one day it was an emergency with one of my dads and so I got a camera to see who was there."

"Good idea."

"Ah so you're a fan of mine." Rachel states, taking me by surprise. "You didn't question the 'one of my dads' therefore I deduced that you already knew I was raised by two men, and really only my fans know that."

"Guilty." I blush, raising my hands in surrender. "Does that make this weird?"

"Make what weird exactly?" The actress smirks.

"Um… well… us… having dinner." I stumble, fiddling with the hem of my shirt.

I hear a light chuckle and look up.

"You're cute when you're nervous, but no, it's not weird." Rachel smiles. "Anyway, I've just realised we've been standing in my doorway all this time, do you want to come in?"

My confidence suddenly returns and I decide to show Rachel something other than 'cute'.

"Na I'm good, your lack of manners has put me off." I tease, turning to leave but she grabs my arm.

I look back over my shoulder to find her staring intently at the connection between my bare forearm and her hand, somehow knowing that she felt the same as I did. A spark.

Slowly her gaze lifts until her eyes meet mine and she gives me a nervous smile.

We stand staring into each other's eyes until my phone starts ringing, interrupting our moment.

Sighing heavily I fish the device out of my pocket and see the words 'Hot Stuff' flashing on the screen. Unfortunately, Rachel must see the contact name too because she instantly releases her grip on my arm.

I want to explain myself but know she'd only ring if it was important so I answer the call.

"What is it Santana?" I huff.

"Did I interrupt something?" She teases.

"Shut up and tell me why you called."

"I'm sorry Q but she was fussing and won't go to sleep." I can hear the regret in the Latina's voice so take a few steps back into the hallway, smiling apologetically at Rachel who disappears back into her home to give me some privacy.

"Fine, put her on the phone."

"Hewwo?"

"Hey baby, what's wrong?" I coo quietly into the speaker.

"I miss you." The voice replies.

"I miss you too sweetie but I'll see you in the morning so why don't you go to sleep now so then it'll be morning sooner." I suggest, wandering up and down the corridor.

"Okay… Wuv you."

"I love you too princess. Now give the phone back to Sanny and go to bed."

"How do you do that?" Santana asks as soon as she's got the phone back.

"Instinct. Why do you have her? Where's Puck?"

I hear a sigh on the other end of the line and I know instantly what he's done.

"Never mind, I gotta go, see you later." I say, ending the call.

As I approach Rachel's door I see it left ajar so slowly push it open.

"Rachel?" I shout.

"In the kitchen."

She voice sounds empty of any emotion and I instantly regret letting Santana set her own contact name on my phone.

"Everything okay?" She asks as she spots me leaning in the kitchen doorway.

"Yeah."

"Was that your girlfriend or…?" The brunette asks nervously.

"No, just my house mate. Well best friend really, she'd kill me if I ever described her as 'just a house mate', but no I don't have a girlfriend, or boyfriend." I laugh. "She set the nickname, I'm 'Number 1 Blonde' on her phone, which isn't even true as her girlfriend is blonde so…" I stop abruptly when I see the smirk on Rachel's face.

"Sorry, I just thought I was the only one who ranted." She giggles.

"It's like a nervous thing." I explain.

"Just when I thought you couldn't get any cuter."

"Oh I can get plenty cuter." I wink.

"Was that grammatically correct?"

"Probably not, but I'm so cute I can get away with it."

"If you say so." Rachel laughs but then stops suddenly.

"What?" I question, closing the gap between us, worried by the look on the brunette's face.

"Nothing, it's fine. I'm fine."

"You clearly aren't." I point out. "What's wrong?"

Rachel forces a smile onto her face. "Nothing honestly, just something that reminded me of my ex."

"Oh." I respond, stepping back slightly. "And you aren't over… um them?"

"Him, and I am, just some things take me by surprise that's all." She explains. "Anyway, I made pasta, hope you're okay with that?"

I'm unnerved by the sudden change in subject but let it slide. "Yeah that's fine with me. Though I assume it's vegan."

"It is, but it's really only the sauce that will be different to what you're used to, though I didn't make it myself I'm ashamed to admit." She laughs.

"That's okay, you never know, I might like this sauce better." I smile.

"That is true. We have a little while before it's ready so what do you want to do in the mean time?"

Kiss you. I think.

"Oh, um, I don't mind, it's your home." I say instead.

"Yes but you're the guest, so you get to pick." She smirks.

"Well you said about never getting a chance to talk to people your age so we can just talk if you want?" I suggest.

"Sure." The actress smiles, leading me into her lounge.

"So I guess questions like 'what's it like to be a famous Broadway star' are off the table?" I tease, sitting cross-legged on her sofa, turning my body to face her.

"Only because right now I want to be the one asking the questions."

"Hmm, fine but no questions about my family."

To her credit, if Rachel was shocked by that, she didn't show it. But then again, she is an actress.

"Okay, when did you realise you weren't straight?"

"Jumping straight into the deep end I see." I laugh. "I guess a part of me always knew but I finally realised it fully on Valentine's day 2013."

"Are you going to elaborate?" Rachel giggles.

"My friend and I were at a teacher's wedding and, long story short, ended up hooking up."

"This friend… does it happen to be your best friend?"

"That's very intuitive of you, how'd you know?" I ask.

"Well you mentioned her girlfriend so I figured out she wasn't straight, also, you seem quite shy to just have a random hook-up with a 'friend' so I reckoned it was a close friend and therefore deduced it would be this 'hot stuff'." The brunette shrugs.

"Impressive." I smile. "Oh and her name is Santana."

"Right, so you hooked up with Santana, and figured out you were bi?"

"Pretty much yeah, but it all started with a slow dance. I'd never slow danced with a girl and I found I liked it more than with a guy, mainly because they often use it to cop a feel but I liked the slim waistline and curves that came with it being a girl. I also liked being taller than her."

"Dominant are we?" Rachel teases.

"Not really, I just liked it. She was in heels so wasn't that much shorter, I think I'm attracted to short girls though." I blush, hoping that was subtle.

"Have you been with any other girls?"

"Nope, in fact I've only ever been with two people." I admit.

"Can I ask why?"

"I'm not sure there's a specific reason, just a bad experience with the guy initially and I was put off it for a while."

Rachel opens her mouth to ask another question when a timer goes off in the kitchen.

"Saved by the bell." She laughs, getting up and moving into the other room.

I release a sigh, hoping to be able to change the topic when she returns because if I carry on like this I'll end up telling her the whole story and I'm not ready for her to know that yet. I can't give away all my secrets on the first date. If this is even a date.

Conversation flows naturally over dinner which I am grateful for as I'm sat opposite the actress and I feel like if there was a silence I'd just stare at her and that would just make things more awkward.

"So…" I start, putting down my fork to take a sip of my drink. "We've established that I'm single, but what about you?"

"You're not very subtle you know that right?" Rachel teases. "But I'm very single, have been for a few months, I'm surprised you didn't know that already though."

I look up from my bowl and see her looking at me with a flirty look in her eyes.

"Oh I did, I just wanted to hear you say it." I smirk.

"Where was this confidence earlier?"

"It was there, just hiding because you said that nerves were cute."

"They are, but confidence is sexy." Rachel admits, just as I've taken another sip of wine causing me to choke at the suddenness of the comment. "Sorry I should've timed that better."

"Yeah." I laugh. "Though I was more shocked by the fact you think I'm sexy than the fact that you just openly admitted to it."

"I never said you were sexy, I said confidence was." The brunette points out.

"Alright, but having just pointed out I was being confident, it was implied that you think I'm sexy."

"Are you just being confident on purpose now?"

I pause. "Maybe."

Rachel laughs before standing up to collect the bowls and placing them in the sink.

"Now, I believe we were talking about you?" She smiles, sitting back down at the table.

"Only because you didn't want to talk about yourself." I tell her.

"Well maybe I will in a bit, but give me your life story first, in as much or little detail as you want."

Rolling my eyes I lean back in my chair slightly. "Well I grew up in Columbus…"

"No way!" She interrupts. "I grew up in Lima, we were literally like 90 minutes away from each other how mad is that?"

"Well seeing as I already knew you lived in Lima; I've gotten over the madness of it." I tease. "Anyway, I went to a normal school, lived a… fairly normal life. At least that's what outsiders were led to believe; my home life is a completely different story."

"Which I get you don't want to talk about yet so tell me about school." Rachel smiles.

"Well, I was head cheerleader pretty much from my first day there up until sometime in my sophomore year when I… made a mistake and got kicked out of the squad. I re-joined during junior year briefly but then quit in favour of being in the glee club instead when our coach made us choose."

"Who's us?"

"Well me, Santana and her girlfriend, Brittany, who our coach wanted to launch out of a cannon."

"A cannon? Like a full-sized real-life cannon?" The actress asks, stunned.

"Yep." I laugh. "Luckily, my ex brought us around and we saw the light before Britt got killed."

"You needed your ex to know that you shouldn't let your friend die?"

"What can I say?" I shrug. "We were the unholy trinity, the three most popular girls in school and we wanted it to stay that way. Glee club wasn't exactly top of the hierarchy."

"I know exactly what you mean, our glee club faced bullying and slushie facials almost daily."

"Wait what are slushie facials?"

"You've never been slushied?" Rachel asks shocked. "Basically it's a slushie being thrown in your face."

I wince at the thought. "Who would do that?"

"Mainly the jocks, those who weren't in glee anyway, as well as the cheerleaders."

"Well I'm hoping you don't have PTSD when it comes to cheerleaders." I joke.

"Not quite." She smiles. "Though the head cheerleader at my school really didn't like me, she was always calling me names and stealing my boyfriend, she even joined glee to keep him away from me."

"Sounds like a real bitch." I laugh. "So how many guys did you date in high school?"

"See that's actually more of a complicated question than you may think. I dated Finn, the guy who the cheerleader was constantly stealing, on and off for the whole of high school, we actually got engaged in senior year but then he sent me off to New York and left for the army, before he quit, we broke up and he moved back home to Lima. There was another guy, Jesse, who I dated sophomore year but then it turned out he was only faking it as instructed by my birthmother when she decided she wanted to be in my life for about a day. Finally I dated a Jewish guy, Mark, for about a week because he wanted to date someone Jewish to make his mother happy, but then discovered he didn't want to give up his womaniser ways just yet."

"Wow, that's quite a story." I smile. "This Finn, is he still in Ohio now?"

Something in Rachel's eyes changes and I instantly regret asking the question. "No, he um, passed away about a year ago."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Don't be, you weren't to know." The brunette replies, suddenly standing up and walking away from the table, leaving me sat there wishing I could turn back time.

After sitting alone in Rachel's apartment for almost quarter of an hour I decide to go looking for her.

I walk through the lounge and knock on the first door I come to, opening it only to discover it's her bathroom. Chuckling slightly to myself I move on to the next door, reasoning that it must be her bedroom, I knock again and shortly after, the door opens slowly and I come face to face with a teary-eyed Rachel.

"Sorry." She mumbles, looking down at her feet.

"Don't be sorry." I say, lifting her chin to meet my eyes. "You're allowed to cry."

"Actually I didn't cry, the tears were there, they just didn't fall. I've cried over him so many times that my body seems to refuse doing it again." The brunette admits, never tearing her eyes away from mine.

"Have you ever talked to someone about it? Sometimes that's the best way to heal."

Rachel shakes her head no, finally breaking the intense eye contact.

"Do you want to?" I offer.

"Quinn, we've only just met, I don't want to be a burden this early on." She says, laughing lightly.

"Nonsense, I'm happy to be here for you in whatever way you want me to be."

"Well… this may sound a little weird, but whenever I feel sad I just want to be held, will you cuddle with me?" She asks, looking up again.

"Um… sure." I hesitate.

I watch as Rachel moves back into her bedroom and faulter slightly before swallowing around the lump in my throat and follow her in.

"How… um… where do you want me?" I ask nervously.

"Where's the confidence gone?" Rachel teases, moving to sit on the edge of her bed.

"It comes and goes." I laugh.

"Will you be big spoon?" She asks shyly.

"Of course." I smile, climbing onto her bed after her as she moves to lie down.

Once she's comfortable I move closer, wrapping one arm around her and pulling her nearer until her back is pressed against my front. I bend my arm slightly, resting my hand on her toned stomach while I move my other arm up to underneath the pillow under my head.

"You know, I think I can see what you mean about it being nice to slow dance with a woman, if it feels anything like this does." Rachel confesses quietly after a little while.

I chuckle slightly. "Is that your way of saying that I'm good at cuddling?"

"Yeah I guess it is." She laughs back.

"Also, does that mean you've never cuddled a girl?"

"I haven't no, in fact I've only ever been with guys. I've kissed girls and been attracted to several more than I've kissed, which is how I know I'm not straight, but have never even been on a date with one."

I sigh gently, realising this wasn't a date. "Well maybe one day soon you'll meet a girl you will want to date, what's your type?"

"Funny you should say that actually, because I think I may have actually met one." The actress admits, turning in my arms so we're lying face to face. "She's exactly my type, which is blonde and beautiful."

"That's a coincidence, because my type is brunette and gorgeous." I whisper, hoping she meant what I thought she meant.

Rachel smiles briefly before suddenly leaning forward and kissing me gently. Before I have time to react she's pulled away. I instantly close the gap between us and kiss her again, the connection sending the butterflies in my stomach wild. She brings her hand up to caress my cheek, pulling me impossibly closer. I don't want to break away but the need for air gets too much and I reluctantly stop the kiss, resting my forehead against the brunette's instead, her hand still on my cheek.

I move the arm that was draped over her so that my hand is resting on her hip, squeezing it gently.

"I know we've just met but I really like you Quinn."

"If we're being honest, I've liked you for a while, I've seen your show more times than I'd like to admit." I blush.

Rachel laughs and I feel her breath on my face, causing me to smile at how close we are.

"You're really cute you know that?"

"I've been told, mainly just by you." I smirk.

"You're also a really good kisser." The actress admits, biting her bottom lip.

"I'd like to say the same but I'm not sure I've kissed you enough to tell." I tease.

"Hmm is that so?"

As a response I lean forward and capture her lips once more. I hear Rachel take a sharp intake of breath at the sudden movement before she relaxes and kisses me back. This time I take control and run my tongue along her bottom lip which she instantly lowers allowing me to deepen the kiss. We both release a soft moan at the new sensation and my skin feels like it's on fire.

I move my hand up her body until it reaches the back of her head and pull gently on her hair before running my fingers through the delicate brunette locks.

Her hand moves in the opposite direction to mine, moving down my body until it reaches the hem of my shirt where she hesitates before slipping it under the fabric.

I gasp at the cool fingers on my skin and Rachel pulls away from the kiss.

"Sorry." She mumbles.

"What are you apologising for exactly?" I ask, wondering if she knew the real reason that I gasped.

"Um, for my hands being cold?"

"Ah okay, I just thought maybe you were apologising for touching me, which you didn't need to."

"Quinn, judging by the fact my hand is still under your top, I assumed you didn't mind." She laughs.

I glance down and laugh as I hadn't registered that she hadn't moved her hand. Suddenly she wriggles her fingers slightly, ticking me and I let out a loud laugh at the shock.

"Your laugh is infectious." Rachel comments, giggling at me.

"My ex always hated it, called it more of a cackle so avoided making me laugh."

"That sucks." The actress sympathises. "I don't think I've ever had an ex that thought something negative about me."

"What about the guy who was just using you? Jesse was it?"

"Yeah well he kind of made up for it eventually, he came back into my life a couple of times, explaining his reasonings and I've been meeting up with him occasionally whilst we're both in New York."

"Oh, meeting up as in going on dates?" I ask.

"Hmm is somebody a little jealous?" Rachel teases. "But, honestly, yes we've been on a couple of dates but it's mainly been meeting up as friends, well it has been on my end, not sure what his opinion of it would be."

"You've never asked him?"

"Oh no, I've never been able to be forward, despite what people may think." She laughs.

"You've been pretty forward with me." I smirk. "I mean, your hand is still under my shirt."

She goes to move it but I grab her wrist, stopping her.

"I never said I didn't like it." I smile. "I always find skin on skin contact the most relaxing, and quite often crave it when having personal conversations. Even though this one isn't particularly personal."

"Does that mean I can make it more personal?"

I hesitate. "Maybe not yet, I do feel comfortable enough to open up to you but right now it's already gone midnight and I should be getting home."

"Is it that late already? Wow." The shorter girl comments, glancing over her shoulder at her bedside clock. "I don't want you to leave."

"I don't really want to leave either, but I have to. I need to be home in the morning for Be… I mean, for work."

Rachel frowns slightly at my slip up. "You know, I never asked what you do." She comments, ignoring the blunder for now.

"I'm a writer. Well I'm trying to be, but I have a deadline soon so need to make some final adjustments." I respond, proud of myself for not actually lying and therefore making my excuse sound feasible.

"Hmm, well I guess it'd be selfish of me for keeping you. Though I have been known to be selfish." She smirks.

"How about I give you one more kiss for your trouble?"