Past Mistake

*Chapter 4*: Step By Step

Rachel walked down the hall, receiving curious glances as she went by; she ignored them, though, and made a beeline for Quinn.

"Has Sylvester talked to you yet?" Rachel asked the second she was within earshot. Quinn looked over to her and looked her up and down.

"Wow."

"What?" Rachel self-consciously asked. Quinn shrugged.

"I'm just surprised you did it."

Rachel put her hands on her hips and huffed.

"I told you I was going to wear jeans today; did you think I was lying to you?"

"More like I was expecting you to wear a dress over the jeans or something," Quinn said, touching Rachel's sleeve and smiling. "Or at least one of your crazy animal sweaters."

"Is there something wrong with this?" Rachel asked, looking down at her t-shirt.

"No," Quinn said, genuinely smiling at Rachel.

"You actually look really good." Rachel could feel herself blushing at the compliment.

"Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself." Quinn laughed lightly.

"I don't think the dress goes very well with the hair."

"I don't know," Rachel said, shrugging. "I think it goes quite well together. It's cute, actually."

"What were you asking me about Sylvester?" Quinn asked as she turned to her locker and grabbed a book out of it.

"I overhead her speaking to Becky," Rachel replied. "She was telling her how she wants to film you about how Glee Club ruined your life."

"But it didn't ruin my life," Quinn stated.

Rachel sighed. "When had that ever stopped her before? She'll do anything in this ridiculous bid for congress and she'll do anything to destroy us."

"What makes her think I would help her?" Quinn asked, scoffing.

Rachel smiled sadly knowing that she had tried to help her last time.

"So she hasn't actually talked to you yet?"

"No," Quinn confirmed.

"What are you going to tell her when she comes to you?" Rachel asked. Quinn smirked.

"I'll tell her where to shove her camera."

"Quinn!" Rachel's eyes widened.

"I was just joking, Berry," Quinn said, laughing.

"I'll just tell her I'm not interested."

"Really?" Rachel asked, looking into Quinn's eyes. Quinn sighed.

"You don't believe me?"

"It's not that I don't believe you," Rachel said, looking down.

Quinn shook her head and started walking away.

"Yes it is."

"Quinn!" Rachel's hand shot out and grabbed
Quinn's elbow. "I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to suggest that I didn't believe you. I know you've changed from the cheerleader that joined just to destroy Glee and I apologize."

"I'll see you later," Quinn said, gently removing her arm from Rachel's grasp.

Rachel sighed to herself and cursed her ability to always say the wrong thing around Quinn. Their tentative friendship had always left Rachel feeling like she was about to screw everything up when it came to the ex-Cheerio. Somehow it was always one step forward and two steps back with them. Rachel never knew where she stood with Quinn and it was something that had always driven her nuts.