All It Took

Chapter 1

A Glee fanfiction by Lonesome Bird

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Hello everyone, welcome to my first multi-chaptered fic! The prompt was given to me by an Anon in his/her review for my Faberry one shot, In Which Quinn Fabray Finds the Irony in Her Life.

The prompt was as follows: Sick of being bullied and alone, Rachel transfers to the female equivalent of
Dalton Academy. Quinn starts to miss Rachel. A friendship starts to blossom
between the girls outside of school.

Bonus points if New Directions visit Rachel's new school to check out the
competition/improve inter-glee club relations and Rachel's glee club perform
for them. Kinda want Rachel to do "Teenage Dream" (ala Blaine & the Warblers)
but doesn't have to be. Cue swooning by Quinn...and maybe a few others.

So, here ya' go, Anon! I hope you enjoy. As previously stated, this is going to be a multi-chaptered fic, and obviously, AU. There are spoilers up until 2.01. The events in this story are intended to happen after that. Also, I don't really have any idea where this story is going as of yet. I'm flying by the seat of my pants, folks. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee, and intend no copyright infringement. This will be eventual Faberry and will most likely earn the M rating that I am giving it.

One final slushie was all it took to break Rachel Berry.

As the frozen treat hit her with all the blast of an arctic wind, she decided in that moment, she was done with McKinley High. Rachel went to her locker, retrieved her emergency slushie cleaning kit, and headed to the bathroom. Giggles and insults followed her the whole way. It was only then that she allowed her tears and anger to overtake her. After she had cleaned herself and changed her clothes, Rachel gripped the edge of the sink, her knuckles white.

The school was not going to do anything to stop this.

Finn never stood up for her.

She didn't have any friends.

Rachel Barbra Berry was sick of it, and she was going to take matters into her own hands. She took her Blackberry out from her bag and pulled up Google on the browser. Into the search bar she typed "private arts-oriented all girls high school in Lima." She held her breath for a moment and then pressed enter.

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Quinn Fabray had witnessed many people get slushied in the halls of McKinley. She had even slushied a few unfortunate souls herself. She knew it was wrong. She knew that the God that she worshipped would not approve of the things that she did with her life. Hell, last year she had cheated on her boyfriend with his best friend and gotten pregnant. This year, she had told Coach Sylvester about her best friend's "summer surgery," and gotten her demoted to the bottom of the Cheerio's pyramid, simply because she wanted to be back on top. Yes, Quinn Fabray knew that she was far from perfect. But if there was one thing about herself that she knew, it was that she could not show weakness or pity, especially to the less popular freaks and geeks…despite the fact that she had been one of them last year.

Never before had Quinn felt sorry for Rachel Berry, even when she had been slushied on many other occasions. Perhaps it was the look in her eyes. Usually when Berry was hit with the ice cold concoction, she just looked shocked, and a little sad. But of course, she was always roaming the halls fifteen minutes later, smiling as if the gods of Broadway had made her their queen. This time when Rachel was slushied, something was different. The look in her eyes was so different, so much more than sad.

Rachel Berry had looked utterly broken. She continued to look this way as the people around her slowly dispersed, content to move on with their pitiful lives. Her eyes stayed the same when she wandered (and really, when had Rachel Berry ever wandered anywhere? She always walked with a purpose), to her locker to retrieve her extra clothes and then into the bathroom to change and clean herself.

Quinn Fabray wondered if the bullying Rachel Berry endured had finally caused an indelible mark. For some reason, this worried her. She turned to a freshman that had been standing nearby during the incident, and who was still chuckling to himself.

"You," she snapped. "What's your name?"

The kid's head whipped towards Quinn at lightning speed. He looked around to assure himself that yes, this was Quinn Fabray, and yes, she really was talking to him before turning back to her with wide eyes.

"B-Brad," he stammered.

"Brad, who just slushied that girl?"

"I t-think his n-name was Karofsky."

Quinn's eyes narrowed. Of course it had been Karofsky. It was always Karofsky. She turned away from the nervous boy and walked back to her locker. She reached inside and pulled out her cell phone, then pulled up Puck's name.

I need a favor.

-Quinn

Quinn waited for a few moments, drumming her fingers impatiently. Fortunately it was lunch period, so she had time to spare. Puck's reply came within two minutes.

Nything 4 u, baby mama ;)

-Puckasaurus

Quinn rolled her eyes, but quickly replied back.

Today at football practice, make Karofsky's life a living hell.

-Quinn

Like I nd a reson 2 do that. Dudes an ass. I'm on it.

-Puckasaurus

Quinn shut her phone before placing it back in her locker. A few moments later, it buzzed again. She picked it up and flipped it open.

Cn I ask y?

-Puckasaurus

No.

-Quinn

Quinn snapped her phone shut and slammed her locker. She lifted her head up high and began to walk to the cafeteria. Don't say that Quinn Fabray had never done anything nice in her life.

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Rachel Berry was strangely absent from the rest of her classes that day. And she missed glee rehearsal. Quinn tried not to feel worried, but wasn't able to stop the anxiety from creeping its way up her body.

The other kids in the club noticed that Rachel was gone, of course, but the only person who showed any real concern was Finn. And Quinn, not that she would ever show that. Besides, she was too worried about Santana assassinating her at some point throughout the two hours and ignoring the looks that the new kid, Sam, was throwing her way.

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The next day at school, Quinn was pleased to see Karofsky sporting a black eye and his right arm in a sling. She caught Puck's eye while she passed him in the hall and gave him a nod. He grinned back at her and wiggled his eyebrows. She rolled her eyes and continued to her locker. When she got there, she noticed Finn at his own locker, looking down at his phone in shock and sadness. She thought nothing of it until glee after school, when Mr. Schue hurried in with an odd look on his face.

"Guys!" he said, clapping his hands for everyone's attention. They all went silent, sensing that something big was about to be revealed. "I have some…well…I have some bad news."

You could hear a pin drop.

"Due to some recent bullying, Rachel has decided to transfer from McKinley High. Frankly, I'm disappointed in all of you. You all saw this happening and did nothing to stop it? Where's your team spirit? Where's your concern for Rachel's well-being? And where is your simple, human, compassion?"

All was silent for a moment, until Finn spoke up.

"I guess that's why she broke up with me."

Quinn rolled her eyes, trying to quell the sudden sense of sadness that overwhelmed her.

"What are we going to do about Sectionals? Does this mean the rest of us actually have a chance at getting a solo?" Kurt piped up. Mercedes high-fived him, and Santana smirked. Brittany just looked confused. Finn looked like he wanted to say something else, but most likely couldn't think of the word he needed to use. Quinn felt anger rising up within her.

"Seriously?" she spat out. Everyone's heads whipped towards her. "Somebody that we're supposed to support just transferred because she felt like she couldn't stand being here anymore, because all the bullying that she endured finally took its toll, because none of us ever had anything nice to say to her, and you're worried about Sectionals?"

"No offense, Quinn, but it's not like you were any better. You used to do some of the bullying yourself." Kurt said, gesturing with his hand.

"Do you think I don't know that?" She shot back. "And I am ashamed of myself for it. I know that I should have done something. But I didn't. And now the one person who could really help make a difference for all of us is gone."

"You're defending RuPaul?" Santana sneered from the back. "What happened to your sanity, Blondie? Did you push it out along with your baby?"

For the second time in two weeks, Mr. Schue had to restrain Quinn from throwing herself at Santana. It took a few minutes, but everyone had eventually calmed down (and avoided enough punches from Santana) that they could all sit peacefully again. Mr. Schue looked back at them.

"I really think you should all take into consideration what Quinn said, especially if you see any of your remaining team mates being bullied this year. Come to me immediately if you do see this. We don't want to lose anyone else. Also, this loss is going to harm us in more ways than one."

"What do you mean, Mr. Schue?" Finn asked. Mr. Schue regarded him with a baleful glance.

"I mean, we're going to have a bigger challenge winning Sectionals."

"Well yeah, Mr. Schue. We knew that."

"I don't think you guys understand what I'm saying. There are three teams that are competing at Sectionals this year: New Directions, The Hipsters, and The Lima Academy School for the Art's all girls team, The Stars. It was going to be Dalton Academy's Warblers, but they had to drop out due to some sort of scheduling conflict. Did you guys ever think to wonder where Rachel transferred to?"

"…is Rachel actually an old person? She dresses like it."

"No, Brittany. Rachel was your age. Rachel transferred to The Lima Academy School for the Arts. We're going to be competing against her. Take a minute to think about how difficult this is going to be."

The room sat in silence yet again.

"Yeah, we're screwed." Puck said.

Mr. Schuester glared at him before giving a speech on how that was not the right attitude to have, and how they will fight their hardest and win. Quinn was not listening to any of this. She was too wrapped up in her own head. The gravity of her own words had just settled upon her.

She did not want to be the snobby, bitchy, cliché high school cheerleader. She was meant to be different than that. Granted, she stood out here, but for all the wrong reasons. She wanted to be known as someone other than Quinn Fabray, HBIC and teen mom. She wanted to make things right. Quinn groaned inwardly when she realized what she was going to have to do.

She was going to have to apologize to Rachel Berry.

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After glee, Quinn went immediately home. She was not in the mood to talk to anyone else, especially the new kid, who seemed to be trying to catch her attention as she picked up her bag and walked out the door.

"Hey," he said with a grin as she was attempting to leave the chorus room. "That was pretty cool what you said back there. I used to get bullied at my old school, and-''

"As much as I'd love to hear your story, I really need to leave." Quinn snapped.

When she got home, she realized that snapping at the new guy who was only trying to be nice was probably not a good way to make people see her differently. She needed to actually work on this whole "being nice" thing.

Quinn sighed and picked up her phone.

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Rachel sighed when she heard her phone vibrating from somewhere on her bed. She had asked Finn very nicely to not bother her for a while, as she was still processing many things and did not need anything else stressing her as she prepared to transfer to her new school. The Lima Academy School for the Arts seemed like the perfect fit for her, and her fathers had agreed. Plus, they had an excellent glee club. She planned to audition the next day and really needed her rest.

She picked up her phone to delete the messages from Finn that had been piling up, but froze when she saw who the message was from. This had to be some sort of sick joke. There was no other reason why Quinn Fabray would be texting her. She opened up the message to see what was within.

(1/2) Rachel, it's Quinn. I know that this is probably weird, but when I heard that you were transferring from McKinley, I felt really bad. I did. I know that I haven't been nice to you, even though you were nothing but kind last year when I needed it most. I really regret

(2/2) not taking you up on your offer of friendship when I had the chance to. I'm asking you for a chance to make things right. I'd like to take you up on that offer, if you'd let me.

-Quinn

Rachel re-read the messages from Quinn several times, her mouth hanging open. Really? She wasn't sure what to think. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise her if this was some sort of elaborate scheme to humiliate her further.

Rachel typed out a quick reply, put her phone face down on her bedside table, and plugged her iPod into her iHome. She selected her "Mental Anguish" playlist, and set it on maximum volume. Downstairs, Hiram and Leroy Berry winced from the noise coming from their daughter's room. They didn't have the heart to tell her to turn it down.

-0-0-0-

In the Fabray household, Quinn heard her phone buzz and eagerly checked the reply.

Quinn, while I'm sure you will be disappointed that your favorite punching bag will no longer be around, I must insist that you find a new target. I'm done with McKinley. Good night.

-Rach Berry

Quinn groaned and threw her phone down to the edge of her bed. Why couldn't she push her conscious away and continue to be a bad person? It really was so much easier. Damn her Christian upbringing. Quinn picked her iPod up off of her side table, selected her "Annoyed at EVERYONE" playlist, and put it in her iHome. She set it on maximum volume.

Judy Fabray was already on her sixth Jack and Coke for the night, so she didn't notice the noise coming from her daughter's room.

Reviews would be fantastic. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter!

Thanks again to the Anon who gave me this prompt. I will most likely use the other one you gave me at some point too. :)

-LB