Set during 3x01 after the We Got the Beat glee performance.

(Btw for anyone following my Twilight stories, I am not neglecting those stories for Glee fics. Don't worry I got an update for the others coming so soon!)

The Restroom

I didn't plan it, at least not this time, certainly not while I was still covered in greasy spaghetti sauce and rancid cheese dip from our latest Glee recruitment failure in the cafeteria. I was convinced the stains would never come out and the image of food hurling towards my face was a grim reminder of how easy it would've been to wind up with another broken nose situation. Was it so much to ask that my fellow schoolmates adore and respect me unconditionally while occasionally showering me with compliments of how talented I am? Apparently it was at this school.

I made my way hurriedly to the restroom, more than prepared to handle any wardrobe faux pas with practiced ease, after years of slushie facials. I pushed the door open quickly but froze when I saw the familiar crowd of skanks grouped around an open stall. A soaking wet freshman student trembled at their feet as she handed over a stack of bills to a very displeased Quinn.

"Now, get out of here before we decide you're still too dry." Quinn rasped lowly, stepping aside to allow the frightened girl to pass by them. The student rushed out the door clutching her books to her chest, looking as if she'd just escaped a mauling by a pack of wild dingoes. The skanks all watched her leave the restroom, their eyes coming to rest on me as she passed by realizing for the first time that I was there. The logical part of my brain told me to turn around and go running for the nearest classroom, yet the illogical, prideful part of my mind refused to be intimidated by the surly gang of girls.

"Well, looks like we've got another volunteer for our next swirly." Mac threatened amusedly, confirming my fears as she walked up beside me and pushed the door I was still holding open shut. My eyes darted pass her to the other three girls who -with the exception of Quinn- were all wearing the same devious smiles. I ignored everyone else, suddenly more interested in studying Quinn's apparent ambivalence than with the inevitability of my swirly.

My earlier encounter with the strawberry-haired ex-Cheerio was still fresh on my mind and had continued to permeate my thoughts throughout the day. I'd meant what I'd said under the bleachers, I did miss seeing her in Glee but even more I missed spending time with Quinn. Quinn and I had a very unconventional friendship that, while meaningful, offered little opportunity for socialization outside of school. Simply said, Glee was the only place where Quinn and I really interacted and it saddened me that she could so easily give up on it…give up on me.

"Hey dwarf, I'm talking to you!" Mac yelled jerking my attention back to her.

I huffed, growing annoyed with the girl towering over me and with the overuse of that particular insult. I've been going to this school for over three years now, you'd think they'd expand their list of criticisms.

"I'm not interested in being one of your targets of underserved aggression in an attempt to assert your dominance or alleviate your feelings of insecurity. So, if you would kindly step aside and allow me use of the facilities I would greatly appreciate it." I finished calmly, satisfied by the stunned expression on Mac's face as I walked around her to the sinks. I caught Quinns' eye in the mirror and she smiled briefly despite an obvious effort to keep her mask of impassivity up. Unfortunately for me the other three skank members were less than amused by my retort. Mac immediately grabbed my shoulder spinning me around to face her as Shelia and Ronnie closed in around me.

"You know, I've knocked girls' teeth out for less than what you just said. Let's see how smart you are with your head underwater." She gripped my arm yanking me towards the stall, but before we could move any further there was another (equally forceful) tug pulling Mac's hand off of me.

"Enough." Quinns voice was firm, and the stiff set of her lips and narrowed glare told us all that she wasn't interested in playing games.

"Are you honestly taking up for her." Ronnie said pointing at me like I was an exhibit at the Smithsonian she didn't understand. "She's wearing a plaid skirt and she looks like she showers at least twice a day." Ronnie accused, as if those were things to be embarrassed of, and the other two girls grunted in agreement. Quinn stared at me as if she wasn't sure why she intervened either and I stared back pleadingly hoping she wouldn't allow them to go through with their plan. Her mouth opened to speak but closed again before she shook her head and sighed, releasing her hold on Mac.

"I couldn't care less about who you swirly." She said slowly, unable to keep eye contact with me as the jagged words left her pink-stained lips. I frowned, of course she wouldn't care. Why would I think anything otherwise?

The skanks all grinned and continued dragging me toward the stall when Quinn suddenly spoke up again.

"I just hope we don't get caught in Sue's hall sweeps. I heard she's cracking down on truancy and the last student that got caught hasn't been seen since Monday." Quinn said nonchalantly pulling a cigarette from her jacket pocket and lighting it, looking as if she didn't care either way. All three girls stopped in their movements as they considered Quinn's statement. Even the toughest kids at this school hesitated in going head-to-head with Sue Sylvester; everyone knew she was unpredictable and likely insane.

"Maybe Quinn's right. I heard Sue takes power naps on a bed of nails in the boiler room…just for fun." Ronnie said looking to Shelia and Mac for confirmation. Mac faltered for a few seconds before letting me go roughly.

"You got lucky this time. You better not let us catch you around here again." I bit my tongue to stop myself from explaining that the likelihood of us not seeing each other again at a school this size was highly improbable. I didn't want to test "my luck" and wind up getting swirled anyways. The four girls filed out of the restroom one by one, but it was only when I heard Mac's voice call out to Quinn that I noticed Quinn hadn't moved at all.

"Aren't you coming?" Mac asked holding the door open for Quinn.

"After I finish." Quinn said holding the cigarette between her fingers up in the air. Mac nodded letting the door drift shut as she walked away, leaving Quinn and I alone in the restroom. Quinn turned to me after a few seconds, confident that the three girls weren't going to barge in any moment, she pulled several paper towels from the dispenser over the sink and began to wet them under the faucet. Once they were moistened she moved towards me with the towels. Instinctively I stiffened taking a small step away from her helpful hands.

"I don't need your help. I'm perfectly capable of cleaning myself. You don't have to-"

"Rachel? Shut up." There was no malice at all in her tone and despite my protesting I found myself relenting to her command as she brought the towel to my face. A tense silence settled between us as Quinn continued. I was surprised by how gentle she was being, but part of me was buzzing with excitement at how close she was. Images of prom night flashed in my mind as Quinn's fingers lingered on my cheek softly caressing the skin she'd cleaned there. Her hazel eyes met mine for the first time and I could practically read the uncertainty in them.

I didn't know what to say, yet my compulsive need to fill every moment of silence with sound caused me to blurt the first thing that came to mind. "I really wish you'd reconsider re-joining glee club." Quinn paused, staring at me with an "are-you-serious" sort of expression that made me wish I'd kept my big mouth shut. She retracted her hand and took a step away from me and I immediately missed the closeness of her.

"Everything is about Glee club with you Rachel. Is that the only thing you think about? Is that the only thing you care about? It's pathetic. I'm never going back to that stupid club."

"It's just…not the same without you." I stumbled trying to remember what I'd really wanted to say before I ruined the moment with my verbal eruption. "Look I know you're different now. I get it, people change but I just don't want you to forget the people who care about you. I-we all miss you Quinn." I said taking a tentative step closer to her, relieved when she didn't back away.

"How can you guys care about me? You don't even know me." Quinn huffed, throwing the wet paper towel she was still holding in the garbage.

"I know you." I whispered receiving a disbelieving glare from Quinn, who still didn't seem to mind the fact that I'd moved in even closer to her and we were almost touching again. "At least…I thought I did. Especially after last Summer. I mean, when you kissed me-" Quinn barked a hollow laugh cutting me off as she moved away to sit on the ledge of the windowsill.

"It was just a stupid, impulsive kiss. I got caught up in the moment. It wasn't some grand romantic gesture or some proclamation of my undying affection, and it doesn't give you license to invade my life and assume that you know anything about me." Her tone was laced with misplaced anger and her words froze me completely as I stared in stunned silence. I could feel the tears stinging the edges of my eyes and I did my best to swallow the hurt I was feeling. She was right I was overly romantic and I did invest too much into often trivial, insignificant things but I felt something real when we kissed. Something that I'd never felt when I kissed Finn, or Puck or even Jessie. As talented as they all were in the art of female seductions, none of them had been able to make me feel that borderline painful sensation of pure want that the brief touch of Quinn's lips had inspired. I thought that it meant something to her too, but once again I was setting myself up for disappointment. Groundhogs day all over again.

I couldn't let her see me cry. I couldn't let her see it mattered to me.

"It's good to know where we stand. Maybe now I can stop wasting my time trying to convince you to return to glee when clearly you don't care about any of us. I could use the time to practice for the numerous solos I'm sure I'll be receiving with you out of the way." I tried my best to put the same edge to my tone as Quinn had seconds ago, but the expression on her face told me I was less than convincing.

I needed to get out of here. I'd had enough of Quinn Fabray for one afternoon. I didn't care that I still hadn't changed clothes or that I could still feel the uncomfortable squish of spaghetti sauce in my shirt, I was leaving. I hurried out of the bathroom without a second look at Quinn. I was halfway down the empty hall before I felt fingers wrap around my wrist stopping me. Why was everyone grabbing me today? I spun around ready to verbally assault whoever had chosen to lay hands on me but all my protests ceased when I came face-to-face with Quinn.

I'm not sure whether it was shock or curiosity that I let her tug me down the hall and back into the bathroom. Once the door was pushed closed Quinn stepped back, staring at me. Several wordless seconds passed before she finally spoke, her voice hesitant and low.

"Do you have to be so dramatic about everything?" She erupted. I couldn't believe she was actually angry with me. We both knew she had no right to be yelling and I gave her a disbelieving look as I crossed my arms over my chest. Once she saw I wasn't going to be intimidated into relinquishing whatever leverage I had in this situation she deflated, her shoulders slumping as she leaned against the sinks.

"Maybe you're not wasting your time." She whispered reluctantly, as if she didn't want me to hear her at all. I remained quiet hoping she would continue.

"No one tries as hard as you do. No one. I've gotten used to you being-" She paused, collecting her thoughts. "All I know is that when you're around I feel like I'm close to finding whatever it is I'm looking for. So just because I say I don't want you around doesn't mean I actually mean it." Quinn was gripping the sink tightly and it looked as if she was struggling to speak. I could tell that this was hard for her to admit, yet this kind of sporadic honesty was not uncommon between Quinn and I. There was an energy between us -some unnamable force- that made it easy to speak to Quinn. To be around each other. To trust each other. That force was what kept me coming back despite the insults and hurt feelings; that force is what made Quinn so unlike anyone else.

I moved in closer prying her hand from the edge of the sink and taking it in my own. Quinn was so warm and soft for a moment I was distracted by the feeling of her skin touching mine. I brushed my thumb slowly along the back of her palm relishing in the contact. Her grip tightened on my hand drawing my eyes to hers. She was staring at me with an intensity I didn't understand -like she was trying to read my mind or something- then she suddenly leaned in pressing her lips to mine. Once the initial shock of what was happening wore off I was able to respond to her actions. It was just as I remembered from last Summer. Quinns lips moved meticulously against mine as if searching for answers in me that only her lips and tongue could define. We stayed exploring each other mouths with increasing desperation, until finally Quinn pulled back. I missed the contact immediately and resisted the impulse to groan my disappointment. Quinn rested her hand softly on my cheek, stroking it tenderly before she let her hand fall back at her side.

I had no words to describe what my body was doing to me right now. It was as if my entire brain was on sensory overload. I felt like the feeling couldn't be contained, like I was bound to explode any moment with too much excitement and pent up sexual frustration. I wanted to touch her again. And again, and again. As many times and as often as should we let me, because somehow touching Quinn (being with Quinn) made everything else in the world fade to black.

As Quinn stared down at me the silence quickly became too overwhelming and once again my lack of impulse control led me to blurt the first thing on my mind.

"You…taste like pink." I whispered, staring at her lips shamelessly. Any embarrassment I was starting to feel after what I'd said was quickly extinguished when Quinn started smiling.

"You always surprise me Rachel." She said, her smile broadening even more. She began to lean back in and I closed my eyes anticipating the touch when suddenly the bathroom door flew open slamming into the wall and startling us both.

"Well if it isn't the brown noser and cigarette ash Barbie. What do you two think you're doing out of class?" Sue marched into the bathroom her eyes scanning over both of us suspiciously. "The only thing that annoys me more that truant students is that tap-dancing squirrel in the faculty parking lot and trust me I have no problem throwing jagged spear-shaped rocks at you two just like I did with him." I looked at Quinn to see if she had any idea what Sue was on about but she just rolled her eyes.

"We were just leaving." Quinn said sounding both bored and annoyed with the interruption. She grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bathroom quickly before Sue could deliver another one of her confusing anecdotes. Once we were around the hall corner Quinn turned to me. I could tell she wasn't sure what to say next and since I couldn't seem to stop talking I took the lead.

"Meet me after school?" I asked hopefully, praying that she wouldn't withdraw again and disregard everything that had just happened. She stared at me for a while and for a moment I was starting to think she wouldn't answer at all when she suddenly spoke up.

"I'll walk you home after glee practice." She said and I breathed a sigh of relief that she wasn't retreating. "There are a lot of 'bad girls' around here in case you haven't heard." She said smirking as she turned away and leisurely made her way down to the opposite end of the hall.

As I watched Quinn walk away I couldn't help thinking that maybe that happy ending was possible after all. And something told me Quinn would make a lovely Pink Prince.

Sorry for any typos and grammar errors. I can't be bothered to proof right now. :/