Will The Real Rachel Berry Please Stand Up?

9

Rachel picked her phone up and then put it down again. She was in a quandary - to warn Ali of the additional guest tonight or not? If she did Ali might choose not to come and Rachel felt an evening of just Quinn and her (with a minor appearance of her Dads) would be awkward at best. If she didn't warn her then Ali's reaction could be anything from slightly miffed to feeling completely betrayed; Rachel was unsure as she'd always told Ali everything since - well - forever. She stopped pacing her room, a compromise ready - she'd ask Ali to come earlier and then if necessary she could use her feminine wiles to persuade her to stay. She sent the text.

"Sorry" Ali looked apologetic as she entered the Berry house," would've been earlier but you know what parents are like."

Rachel glanced at the clock, she potentially only had 10 minutes before Quinn arrived if she was as much a stickler for punctuality as Rachel. Ali eyed her curiously taking in Rachel's slightly uncomfortable demeanour.

"Okay spit it out, what's happened?"

"Well I kind of, well I did, but I wasn't thinking - in my defence I was in a Kylie haze" Rachel muttered.

"Rachel what have you done?" Ali asked concerned.

"I invited Quinn to join us tonight for dinner. I'm sorry - please say it's okay."

There was an uncomfortable silence as Rachel squirmed avoiding eye contact with Ali.

"You...invited...Quinn Fabray...here? What were you thinking? Are you some sort of masochist?" Ali struggled to keep her voice from rising in outrage having noted the guilty look on Rachel's face.

"I wasn't thinking. I did it on impulse. Sorry. I'll understand if you want to leave." Rachel replied in a quiet voice.

"Don't be daft - we'll face the Wicked Witch of the West together. What time is she.." Ali was interrupted by the doorbell.

"Guess that's her." Muttered Rachel,"Are we okay?"

"We're fine" Ali reassured Rachel giving her a quick hug, "Any chance she'll go away if we don't answer the door?"

Ali's question was answered by the doorbell ringing again accompanied by a knocking on the door.

"Someone's keen" grumped Ali as Rachel headed to the door. Ali took a deep breath, time to meet the architect of Rachel's school torment. She already knew she wouldn't like her.

A jaw-droppingly attractive blonde followed Rachel into the living room holding a bunch of flowers. Ali realised Rachel had never actually given a physical description of the dreaded Quinn.

"Ali, Quinn. Quinn, my best friend Ali" Rachel introduced them looking nervously from one to the other. Quinn extended her hand. "Nice to meet you," she smiled.

Ali ignored the extended hand, gave a less than friendly glare and then stepped closer into Quinn's personal space.

Quinn's smile dropped as did her hand and she could feel the colour rising on her cheeks.

"Hardly a pleasure," Ali stated clearly as the temperature in the room seemed to plummet,"You'll need a hell of a load more flowers if that's meant to be an apology for what you've put Rachel through all these years" Ali added as Quinn stepped back.

Quinn felt a flash of anger and then a wave of guilt flooded her. She deserved this and more. She glanced at an uncomfortable looking Rachel, squared her shoulders and stepped back towards Ali.

"I'm here as Rachel's guest and you need to learn some manners" Quinn asserted as she and Ali tried to outstare each other. Quinn recognised it as a weak comeback but what could she say? The tension was broken by Rachel's Dad stepping into the room.