Rachel Berry beamed her signature grin as she heard the distinct tune of "Don't Stop Believing" come from her cell phone. Slowing the whirring elliptical to an almost nonexistent hum she wiped at her sweaty face delicately with a towel. 7:00 A.M. Right on schedule. She let the song play out entirely as she stepped from the machine and waited in anticipation, hands gripping the ends of the towel around her neck loosely. Rachel listened distractedly to her voice mail go off and then the sweetest voice she had ever heard played.

Hope you are having a great morning. Love you.

She sighed contentedly and fondly plucked the bedazzled phone with an eager hand, flipping it open.

"Good morning."

I thought you were going to make me go until 8:10 without hearing your voice, pouted Rachel's irritated lover. The brunette grinned at the petulant tone. Breezily she walked toward the bathroom connected to her room, passing by a laptop on an immaculately clean desk, a wall covered with pictures, and a closet filled with argyle and animal sweaters galore.

"Oh how would you ever go on Quinn? Without me, your ever faithful and persistent source of support at your side, you would inevitably deteriorate into an overly stressed, undersexed geek," Rachel purred teasingly as she reached upward on the balls of her feet, twisting the shower knob with sure fingers.

Oh how kind of you to remind me, Quinn muttered in a saccharinely sweet voice, The only reason I keep you around is obviously because you provide great sex and prevent me from losing my mind.

Rachel smirked as she tested the water with one hand.

"I love you, Quinn," she said warmly, eyes twinkling with amusement.

As I love you.

The girl suddenly felt an overwhelming desire to hug the blonde who was speaking to her. They stood in the comfortable silence of loving confessions that were really an occurrence that happened at least several times a day. The shrill keen of hot water in the shower pipes broke Rachel from her reverie.

"I have to go take a shower. I will speak to you again when I get to school."

Why did you have to mention the shower? Now I can't get the image out of my head! whined Quinn. Rachel could just imagine the other girl crossing her arms like a spoiled child with an irritable pout on her gorgeous face.

"Good-bye, Quinn," she giggled amusedly, gently closing the phone despite the very audible protests from the speaker.

OOOOOOOOOO

"Daddy!" Rachel yelled happily as she careened down the stairs, hopping gracelessly on a socked foot as she struggled to put on her shoes. She was in a hurry. She shouldn't have stayed up so late talking to Quinn last night. Rachel had merely sat on the bed for a few minutes, stretching out on the fluffy king sized mattress, and the next thing she knew it was 7:55 and school started in fifteen minutes.

Hiram Berry smiled crookedly at his daughter, wiping his wet ebony hands on a clean wash cloth.

"Sweetie, breakfast is on the counter. If you want to keep your perfect attendance record I suggest you-" Rachel lunged forward, grabbed the slice of fresh multi grain bread with almond butter, and hastily pecked her father on the cheek as she rushed out the door, "-hurry." Hiram sighed as he watched his little girl throw her backpack into the passenger seat of the car and speed off to William Mckinley High School. He glanced at his watch with an amused smile as he prepared for his day at the hospital.

OOOOOOOOOO

Rachel was winded as she hurriedly dialed in the combination to her locker, nervously scanning the halls of people who were slowly straggling to their classes. She was amazed that she had been able to make it on time. Frankly she knew that if she had a blemish on her attendance record Quinn would not let her hear the end of it. Rachel hissed softly when her too hasty fingers slid past the correct number. Angrily she tried to open the catch of the locker with overeager hands. Nothing. She'd have to dial it all over again. This would be her third time. Just as she was about to turn the dial a creamy white hand shot out and nimbly turned the combination with sure fingers. Rachel watched, entranced as the beige locker swung open.

"Thank-you," she murmured breathlessly, quickly exchanged books from her locker to her backpack. She shouldered the bag and turned, leaning against the wall of lockers, beaming. Before her was a tall blonde dressed in casual jeans and a baggy MIT jacket. Peaking from underneath the unzipped outer layer was her favorite black t-shirt with pi lovingly embroidered on the front. Hazel eyes in turn appreciatively looked over the appearance of the short brunette, observing a short skirt, long knee high socks, and a form fitting argyle sweater.

Quinn adjusted the glasses resting on the bridge of her nose, an eyebrow arching charmingly.

"Having locker trouble again Rachel?" The girl rolled her eyes and playfully shoved the blonde's shoulder.

"I said thank-you Quinn, a very adequate response to your chivalrous action in my opin-mph!" The overly long sentence was cut off by Quinn's eager lips. In a few seconds Rachel was pushed up against the lockers behind her. The kiss wasn't sloppy and wet but it was a deep kiss that made Rachel curl her toes. Suddenly the welcome and warm contact ended.

"See you in Honors American Lit.," the blonde whispered in Rachel's ear before she disappeared down the hallway in long legs and a baggy burgundy jacket. She leaned against the metal for a few more seconds before the bell went off. She cursed as she rushed off to class, the brief yet heated encounter gone from her cluttered brain.

OOOOOOOOOO

"No Brit, the mystery meat loaf isn't made from your cat. Quinn was just being a bitch again. A bitch who will get fucked up later today if I can help it."

Rachel sighed quietly into her salad as she observed the Latina cheerio glaring maliciously at her girlfriend. Quinn brushed back a perfect ringlet of blonde hair and shrugged, placing her glasses calmly on the lunch table next to her cucumber and cream cheese sandwich.

"Alright S." The blonde turned to gaze at Brittany who was staring at the meatloaf apprehensively, poking the suspicious blob with trepidation. Her hazel eyes bore into slightly glazed over blue ones.

"Brittany, you know I get a 4.6 GPA, right?" Santana cleared her throat in annoyance. Quinn grit her teeth and elbowed the girl before returning to staring at Brittany with utter sincerity. "I can honestly concur that without a doubt this meatloaf is composed of a goulash substance consisting of leftover pot roast, hot dog, spam, chicken, and hamburger. It is unfeasible that a cat is in this lunch." After a minute of deliberation Brittany nodded and took a hesitant bite of her food. She smiled happily at Santana and the meal resumed.

Rachel smiled and rubbed her foot up and down Quinn's ankle. The girl revealed nothing about the hidden contact as if the action didn't phase her, although she did have a peculiar blush on her cheeks.

"Dios mio, will you guys please stop being sickeningly cute with each other? It's enough that Britt-Britt and I had to deal with this since we were six but to top it off I can't eat this fucking slice of pizza without watching you two playing footsie!" Santana's face was red with exasperation, jaw clenched in clear indignation. All it took was Brittany gently cupping the Latian's cheek and suddenly she sagged from her previously hostile posture.

"You know San, you and B are just as bad as me and Rachel," muttered Quinn with an amused eye roll.

"Do you wanna say that to my face Fabray?"

"I kind of already am."

"Nerd."

"Air head."

"Geek."

"Imbecile."

"Erkel."

"Libby."

Rachel rested her chin on the heel of her hand, stabbing idly at her salad. Santana and Quinn were always at each other's throats. It'd been that way since they were little kids in preschool, constantly shoving one another into the sandbox. When things got a little too heated Brittany would calm Santana down and Rachel would calm Quinn down. Worked like a charm every time.

"Hey Quinn." Instantly hazel eyes had their undivided attention trained on the coy lips curved in a devious smile.

"Yes?"

"I think I need to help you work on your voice for glee. You have to be able to reach the high F for regionals." Her tone was innocent enough but all Quinn needed to see was the gleam in the brunette's chocolate eyes. The blonde sat up a bit too eagerly, easily slinging her book bag over her shoulder.

"Now?" she inquired, a single blonde eyebrow shooting up her forehead. Rachel smiled down at her lunch. It had been a while since she had "voice lessons" with Quinn. She considered a while two days.

"I suppose if you want to improve you vocal capabilities I could-"

"FABRAY!" Santana, Brittany, Quinn and a very annoyed Rachel turned to see the gangly form of Mike Chang streak through the cafeteria. He had an extremely excited look on his face and in one hand he held a still buzzing DS. Rachel internally screamed. She liked Mike Chang. He was a friendly and warm person. Also he was Quinn's best guy friend. They talked about all sorts of nerd related nonsense like Pokemon, Final Fantasy, and Star Wars. Rachel loved her girlfriend, truly she did despite her nerdiness she was one of the sweetest and most lovable people she had ever known. It was just sometimes the girl couldn't take a hint when Rachel wanted to make out and Quinn went on and on about how one of her Pokemon had evolved and she had to text Mike and rub it in his face . . . So Mike usually acted as the buffer between Rachel and nerd related activity. However, there was always a price to that.

"Take that!" The tall asian smirked cheekily as he carefully placed his DS in front of Quinn, eyes gleaming triumphantly. The blonde's jaw dropped and she reached for the small device, only to have it taken away from her eager hands.

"How the hell did you get Pokemon Black and White? This doesn't come out for another month!" Quinn's normally sultry and put together voice cracked at the last word for emphasis. Santana glanced at Rachel and chuckled in amusement at the exasperated look on the brunette's face. Brittany turned to Santana and the two shared a smoldering look.

"Well Berry, have fun with Tweedle Asian and Tweedle nerdette, Britts and I are gonna get our mac on."

"You're shameless Santana," muttered Quinn as she lunged toward Mike, attempting to pry the DS from the tall boy's hands. He merely held it above the jumping girl a prideful grin on his face.

"And you remember the deal Quinn, if I finish the game before you do you have to give me your limited addition Pikachu card."

"Hell no, Chang. That thing is called LIMITED EDITION for a reason. It came straight from Japan in one of the first packs ever sold!"

"You promised Fabray. This is where cockiness gets you." He gave his best friend a playful shoulder nudge and waltzed out of the cafeteria, followed closely behind by an incensed blonde whose screeches could be heard throughout the school campus. She had been forgotten. Again. Rachel sighed and picked up her barely eaten lunch and tossed it in the trash. She had just lost her appetite.

OOOOOOOOOO

Rachel ignored the puppy dog eyes Quinn sent her as she took her seat next to Finn, lightly brushing her side with the tall boy. He glanced at her and gave her a dopey smile, happy to see his friend.

"Hey Rach."

"Hi Finn." She glanced at Quinn out of the corner of her eye, catching sight of the pathetic look on the usually put together girl. She heard Puck make a whipping sound, getting an amused laugh from the rest of the glee club.

"Goodness girl, you have got to stop getting Rachel upset. Why don't you just give up your Poke-whats-its," Mercedes mumbled with her arms crossed over her chest. Mike and Quinn just stared at the girl like she had grown another head. Tina threw a knowing glance over her shoulder. She knew the pain the brunette was forced to endure.

Kurt and Mercedes shared an epic eye roll, giving Rachel a sympathetic glance. We tried he mouthed with a shrug. Rachel huffed impatiently.

"Sorry I'm late guys," Mr. Schue suddenly apologized rushing into the glee classroom, with an overzealous grin. He gestured to Brad, the endearing yet mute pianist. "Let's get started."

OOOOOOOOOO

"Thanks Daddy, Dad. It was delicious." Rachel smiled contentedly as she finished up her plate of food and walked it over tot the sink, giving it a hasty rinse over.

Hiram and John Berry shared a soft look as they looked at their daughter. A singing prodigy, an outspoken young woman, and a driven zealot. Pretty adorable in their humble opinion.

"You're welcome, honey," responded John, leaning back in his seat and wrapping an arm around his husband. Rachel tossed a gentle smile over her shoulder and then gave them each a peck on the cheek.

"I'm going to go finish my homework. Love you Daddy, Dad."

"Love you too sweetheart," the two men chorused, beaming at their wonderful girl as she sped up the stairs. They loved her and supported her through thick and thin. She was their lovely child.

OOOOOOOOOO

Rachel sighed as she flopped down onto her bed, chin resting forlornly on her crossed arms. She stared at the wall of pictures. There was no method to the madness of that mess. It was the only blatant unorganized project in her room. It was really Quinn's project, the only part of Rachel's room that didn't belong to her. The photos ranged from when she was a baby to a few weeks ago. To her amusement most of the pictures were taken by Quinn. That girl had so many quirks, one of them being her fascination with photography. It made Rachel look rather vain to have so many pictures of herself but of course it was so difficult to get a picture of the photographer. Rachel was proud the one day she had finally snapped a shot of the camera shy blonde.

Sunlight streams through her splayed open fingers, warming her face. It's summer and it's a perfect day in Lima, Ohio. The summer before junior year. SATS, scholarships, early admissions, college, first prom. Rachel swallows and worriedly crosses her arms over her chest.

Click

She blinks and rolls onto her stomach, too late realizing that the grass will stain her immaculately white shirt. She stares blankly into Quinn's laughing hazel eyes, observes the pink lips curved into a soft smile, and glares at the elderly camera in her girlfriend's hands. With an impetuous flick of her wrist, all worrisome thoughts forgotten, she snags the camera from the blonde's hands and fingers the button that will snap a picture.

"Hey Rach, watch it. That's what I spent my Christmas money on-"

Click

Rachel smiled as she gazed at the amusing snapshot of Quinn, glasses askew, hand outstretched, words cut off though Quinn hated the photo the girl thought it perfectly captured Quinn Fabray. Candid pictures were her favorites. She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest, pouting sullenly on her bed, mussing the neatly made pink sheets. She should probably call Quinn and tell her that she wasn't mad with her. It was just a lover's quarrel after all. They had had far worse in the past. This was merely a bump in their relationship. Reluctantly she reached for the bedazzled phone with wiggling fingers when the iconic Journery anthem played loudly in her bedroom. Good. Rachel hated being the one to grovel.

"Hello Quinn, I am pleased that you have now seen the error of your ways. Please make your apology warm and heartfelt, I cannot stand-"

Uh Rachel this is Brittany.

The brunette wrinkled her nose in surprise. She hadn't known that the girl knew how to use a phone.

"Oh hello, Brittany."

Hi.

An awkward silence ensued.

Have you and Quinn made up yet?

"No," Rachel sighed and absentmindedly fiddled with the hem of her plaid skirt. "I was about to call her actually."

You should totally do that. Make-up sex is the best. I do this one thing that makes San-

"Brittany. You're talking right now."

Oh . . . sorry Rachel.

"You know Brittany, sometimes I wish that things could be different." She sighed and plopped onto her back, cradling the phone to her ear as she stared at the pastel pink ceiling.

What do you mean?

"I don't know. . . sometimes I wonder what the glee club would do during a zombie apocalypse, or some other natural disaster." Rachel paused and frowned. So Finn and Noah's Nazi zombie playing had finally rubbed off on her.

But aren't things nice now? Why would you want things to be different?

"I suppose it's just human nature Brittany. Humans always question the what-if in life. Like what-if Quinn wasn't a nerd or if I wasn't a singer or we weren't all friends. Don't you ever think like that?" Her eyes widened. She hadn't expected such a secret part of her mind to be revealed over the phone in a casual conversation with Brittany.

No. Being grateful for what we have is pretty important Rach. If I don't do that then how could I appreciate stuff?

Rachel shrugged even though she knew Brittany couldn't see her.

"It's just a silly little confession Brittany. I don't mean anything by it."

There's always a grain of truth in everything that's said, Rachel.

The petite girl frowned and sat up. The blonde sounded very strange, like her usual deadpan voice had some emotion. She had known Brittany for ten years and was lucky to get such a reaction from her out of a simple phone call.

"I'm sorry Brittany, I didn't mean to upset-" Suddenly Rachel clutched at her head, the phone slipping from her fingers.

Rachel? Rachel? Rac-

"Ugh." Rachel curled up into a ball, squeezing her eyes shut. The room was spinning and everything was pounding. It felt like she had gotten hit by a car while simultaneously serenaded by a jackhammer instrumental. Groaning she blindly reached for anything to help her from this agony. She felt something crumple in the palm of her hand and then it all . . . changed to . . . black.

XXXXXXXXXX

Something has changed within me

Something is not the same

I'm through with playing by the rules

Of someone else's game

Rachel jolted upward, eyes wide. Defying Gravity was not her wake-up song. A Broadway classic but it was more of a pick-me-up. Blearily rubbing exhaustion from her eyes she stretched forward and shut off the alarm. Frowning she rubbed her scalp, the dull throb of a once overwhelming headache interrupting her thoughts. What had happened last night? Had Quinn accidentally given her roofies again? That was one occasion she was happy she had completely forgotten. Who knew nerds were capable of finding such dangerous and illegal drugs?

With an extraneous yawn Rachel stretched, both arms reaching for the ceiling, glancing idly to the wall of pictures. Except there weren't any pictures to be seen. She frowned as she trotted forward, not quite believing that the wall once smothered with photographs was now quite bare. She traced her fingers over the cool plaster, her mind reeling. What happened last night? Was this Quinn's bizarre sense of humor again? She turned and glanced at her desk. Her bedazzled pink laptop was there per usual but there were also neatly placed framed photographs. Rushing forward she caught sight of glee club holding their sectionals trophy. Jubilant smiles were on their faces and hope shone in their eyes. Rachel glanced at the companion picture and frowned. She was posing with Finn, eyes too bright, arms wrapped around the taller boy's waist in a possessive waist grab. She glanced at another photo which was also with Finn, this time he was hugging her in his arms.

"What on earth is going on here?" she whispered breathlessly. Her arms fell limply to her sides as she strode numbly across the room. Suddenly she stumbled, waving her arms frantically in the air. Irately she glanced at the object that had tripped her. Her pink bedazzle cell phone. It was instantaneous. She lurched forward and snapped open the phone and dialed the all too familiar number. After a single beep the recipient of the call picked up.

"Hello?"

"Quinn Fabray, you better tell me what is going on right now! If this is some sort of grand scheme to win back my affection it is not working. It's just plain creepy Quinn. I mean how did you even photoshop Finn and I into those ridiculous poses? This is bizarre even for you Quinn and I say that with the most love in the worl-"

"Wait . . . Rachel what the hell are you talking about?"

The brunette blinked and scrunched up her forehead.

"Excuse me? I'm just trying to get down to the bottom of things Quinn. Logically the removal of the pictures and the replacements could only mean you're trying to make a point. Or my girlfriend is trying to unsubtly break up with me, but I truly hope it is the former, not the latter."

There was a long silence that made Rachel begin to pace around the room.

"Rachel." The girl paused, eyebrows furrowing nervously at the cold tone.

"Yes?"

"I'm not your girlfriend."

A/N So this is my first multichapter fic for the Glee fandom. I'll try to update weekly. Also I ship Quinn and Mike as nerdy friends so hard. Almost as hard as I ship Brittanna and Faberry.