The Way We Were

The Way We Plot

"Man up, Fabray!" Santana set her hands on her hips. "It's just Finnocence!"

"Shut up!" Quinn tried to stay still as Brittany and Mercedes applied makeup to her face. Like Mercedes, her crush was in her fifth period class and ever since she wore makeup once, he'd been staring at her so she had her friends apply the goop before the block and washed it off immediately after so Marc and Mike didn't crawl all over her.

"We're done!" Brittany popped up.

"Okay, let's go over the plan." Mercedes said. "You're going to ask Finn for his help with your winter project and when he says yes (and he will), invite him over. Noah and I will come over so you don't be nervous-"

"Noah?" Santana mocked. "I thought he didn't like people calling him that?"

"He lets me." Mercedes stuck her tongue out.

"Aren't you special?"

"You're just mad Matt hasn't asked you to the dance!"

"Shut up!"

"Guys, stop it!" Brittany covered her ears.

"Sorry, Britt." Santana said immediately.

"Sorry, Brittany." Mercedes touched her arm.

"None of that matters until we can get Finn to ask me." Quinn put her hands on her hips.

"He will." Mercedes reassured her.

"Thanks." Quinn leaned over and laid her head on Mercedes' shoulder.

"Okay, let's go before the bell rings."

W.W.W.

As soon as their teacher released them to work on their projects, Quinn, who sat next to Finn, tapped his shoulder.

He looked over, his previous frown evening out. "What's up?"

"I was wondering if you could help me with my project? I'm not good at this English stuff." Quinn stuck her bottom lip out and widened her eyes.

He blinked before blushing. "I'm not really good at it either. I'm way behind."

"Well if you help me, I'll help you."

"Okay." He really liked her clear high voice. It sounded like tinkling bells.

"How about you come over today and we'll work on the projects together?"

"Just the two of us?" His deepened voice squeaked.

"That would be inappropriate. Do you know Puck?" She knew full well they were best friends.

"Yeah."

"He's going to be there with my sister. Do you know Mercy?"

"I know of her." Mainly because Puck talked about her so much.

"He asked her to the dance." She told slyly. "I'm super jealous. I don't have a date."

"You don't?!" He was shocked.

She kept her smirk to herself. "No one's asked me." That wasn't true but he didn't have to know that.

"I don't have a date either." He frowned.

"I can't believe you don't have a date. You're so good-looking and special! You're pulling my leg."

He flushed with a suppressed smile. "No, I really don't. I didn't know who to ask."

"Why not?"

"I don't know too many girls and it's hard for me to talk to them." He admitted sheepishly.