Will The Real Rachel Berry Please Stand Up?

One

Quinn hadn't realised how talented an actress Rachel Berry was until that fateful Saturday. It was her mother's fault that she was even present at the popular eatery on the far side of town. Her mother had decided this would be the venue for their weekly together time. Their mother-daughter bonding was seriously encroaching on her social life but she had resigned herself to giving her mother the chance to ease her guilt - but really, how many meals and spa days could atone for kicking her out of the house when she was pregnant? So this weekend's quality time had Quinn seated at a supposedly hip place to eat trying to read between the lines of a rather dramatic menu (drizzled, marinated, succulent - oh please). Her mother had just popped out to, well whatever it was she had to do - restock her gin supplies probably - leaving Quinn to people watch as she mused over what dish to order.

There was a group of teenagers a few tables over who were creating a noise disproportionate to their numbers and she found her attention drawn to them. The vague familiarity of a more petite member of the group nagged at her subconscious but to be fair the lack of argyle and short skirt did rather mislead her. Also who knew that Berry actually even had friends? As her brain slowly struggled to interpret the images her eyes were transmitting, her ears confirmed the identity of the teenager in front of her - there was no mistaking that voice even if it was toned down. As Quinn focussed her attention on the conversation of the teenage group she suddenly realised that Rachel was re-enacting the last glee rehearsal and more than that, she was doing uncannily accurate impersonations of the people concerned.

Rachel not only seemed to take on the body language of the target of her impression but she also sang a few lines of song in their style. She shook her head slowly from side to side as she replicated the Santana look and sound, hands-on her hips and a don't-mess-with-me scowl on her face. For Mercedes she stood legs astride threw her head back squeezed her eyes shut before soulfully singing ending on a high note that she revisited in the Mercedes style. Rachel's Kurt impersonation, complimented with hat and scarf props, was uncannily accurate and almost caused Quinn to laugh. She was stopped by the sudden realisation that the cold faced, curt and sarcastic character that Rachel was currently portraying was her - although the ponytail should have been a clue. Rachel then moved on to sing in a slightly nasally husky manner, Quinn was torn between outrage and disbelief -surely she sounded nothing like that?

Rachel's audience was loudly appreciative

"God that Quinn is such a bitch" commented one of the girls "Surely you're exaggerating for comic effect?"

"No need to" laughed Rachel, "Quinn hardly has complex motivations. She just wants everyone to feel as bad as she does. I sometimes feel sorry for, in between the slushies and insults she directs my way. Repression, depression and pill or alcohol dependency for her to look forward to"

Quinn could feel her cheeks burning with a mix of embarrassment and rage. Should she make herself scare or her presence known?

"Ah Quinn" her Mothers voice cut across her thoughts," have you decided what you're having ?"

Judy slid into her seat wincing slightly at the sound of bottles chiming against each other as she put her bag down. She followed Quinn's gaze

"Isn't that one of your glee friends?" she asked to distract Quinn from her new purchases

"No, just someone who's a bit of a doppelganger" muttered Quinn attempting to school her features to a blank expressionless mask. She was trying to process the unlikely series of events she'd witnessed. Manhands hanging out with a group of teenagers her own age and even more surprising the impersonations - and pity for her from Berry?

The waitress arrived to take their order and Quinn then tried to divide her attention between her mother's rather inane chatter and the conversation of the Berry crowd. She had scanned the group of males and females that Treasure Trail was hanging out with but none were from McKinley High. Their conversation faded in and out of her earshot but it obviously included many in jokes and gentle teasing - they knew each other well and after they talked about getting back for their afternoon sessions Quinn realised they were probably doing dance or singing classes together.

"Are we still on for the movie marathon at yours tonight Ali?" Rachel directed her comment towards the auburn haired female of the group.

"uh huh but my house, my choice and unless you're very nice to me and I mean, very, I'll be digging out The Lord of the Rings box set just so we can finally determine whether you have dwarf or hobbit genes."

Ali's words were softened with a smile and a nudge of Rachel's arm

"Very nice eh? I'll be on my best behaviour," Rachel leaned in and dropped her voice as she husked,"Or would a tight top with a sufficiency of cleavage be nice enough?"

Colour crept up Ali's cheeks whilst Quinn struggled to hold in a shocked gasp - what on earth did that mean? Quinn struggled to clear images of tight tops and cleavage from her mind. Did that mean that Berry was ..

"You're such a tease " Ali replied " but I like it."

"Ladies time for us to head back before Jeffers feels obliged to give us a motivational talk on how tardiness cost her a chance at fame" intoned the dark haired tall thin boy in the party, the collective smiles and groans in response suggested the motivational talk was a familiar but unpopular one.

Quinn deliberately knocked her fork on the floor and quickly dived down under the table - she needed time to process and consider how she was going to use what she had just learnt. No need to let smurfette know she was on to her. She watched as the group headed to the door and narrowed her eyes as Ali wrapped an arm around Rachel's shoulders pulling her in close whilst whispering something in her ear. Rachel threw her head back and laughed her eyes twinkling, the room seemed to fade away as Quinn suddenly felt like she was seeing a whole new relaxed Rachel and her heart clenched. Whoa, what was that all about?

".. and so Sally suggested that as I had the most experience and exquisite taste that I should be in charge of the flowers." Her mother's voice came back into focus. She nodded an affirmative at her mother as she replayed Rachel's exit in her head only this time with a zoomed in focus on how good that rear had looked in tight jeans.

Oh for goodness sake she needed their food to arrive to stop her mind wandering. Rachel's words replayed in her head " repression depression, pill or alcohol dependency to look forward to" how outrageous as if..- the clink of glass as her mother knocked one of the shopping bags interrupted her thoughts. There was no way she was going to turn into her mother, she glanced at her mother, she was immaculately made up and discussing her bid for power amongst the church women. They were nothing alike. Her mum was all about appearances and being top dog amongst her peers whereas she had more to her -she was loyal to her friends (well mostly the Santana boob job disclosure was a necessary evil) and..

Her thoughts trailed off she refocused on the repression comment - she wasn't repressed. She had a tight control on her emotions but that was about effectiveness and being able to stand her ground and anyway who was Berry to judge her from her place at the bottom of the social pyramid? Miss quivering-lip doe-eyed diva with emotions constantly on display. The slushies were to give them a break from all that neediness, never mind the eyestrain her clothing caused. Quinn's mind leapt to cleavage and tight jeans. God she was slowly going mad, perhaps full attention on her mothers wittering would help.