A/N: Thank you everyone for sticking with me so far! I'll try to get quicker with updates. I truly appreciate you guys for reading

Anything that made the slightest sense in Quinn's world was shattered with the kiss. What was worse, however, was the apologetic glance that Rachel shot Quinn afterwards. The look basically said, "I realize that you truly care about me and I have no doubt that I would be happier with you but Frankenteen in front of me makes life much easier." Never before would Quinn have guessed Rachel Berry would be one to take the easy way out. Knowing that Rachel had at least some form of feelings for Quinn is what hurt the most. It was as though Rachel personally reached into Quinn's chest, ripped her heart out, and danced all over it with Finn's tongue down her throat. The agony of it all was brief. It washed over her entire body causing a literal ache in her heart before dissipating entirely. The life was sucked out of her and she felt nothing. After her final attempt at love, Quinn Fabray was numb.

Back at the hotel Santana went 'Lima Heights' on Rachel and Finn for causing their loss but Quinn sensed Santana's underlying motives of protecting her. She was grateful for Santana's indirect support of her but she also felt a twinge of guilt. Her rekindled friendship with Brittany and Santana would be short-lived. As soon as she set foot in Lima again, she was going to start over completely –new look, new friends, new attitude. The one thing that would remain constant, however, was her love for Rachel. Love isn't something that can be controlled with a simple on/off button. Quinn vowed to do her best to get over her.

Dropping off the face of the earth was easier than Quinn expected. She didn't bother attending the last Glee practice or the end of the year party that followed it. There was no use, she had no intention of returning to the Glee club her senior year- it would only bring back the hurt. So far Quinn was content with the numbness that surrounded her since Nationals. She welcomed the emptiness inside her and was void of all emotion.

It's the last week of summer vacation and she hasn't had any contact with anyone from Glee. Her phone's been disconnected since school got out as a punishment by her mother for her delinquent attitude and getting caught smoking on more than one occasion. Quinn sees that as a blessing rather than a deterrent.

Her mother compares her new behavior to that of a zombie. Quinn doesn't mind. In fact, it pleases her that her actions are generating a response from her absentee mother. Judy, usually too drunk to notice if her daughter is even home, has taken on the role of a "concerned parent." It's too late for that, though. Quinn refuses to see her as a parent figure after everything that happened in her life so she consistently shrugs off Judy's warnings and punishments. What does she have left to lose?

Quinn seizes the opportunity to slip out the front door when her mother is in the kitchen making her first screwdriver of the day. (It's Orange juice and vodka so it's totally appropriate for breakfast. Vitamin C is important, you know). Asking her mother for permission to go out would result in rejection and a reminder that she is grounded so it's easier to just sneak out like this. Quinn heads for Sheila's house to spend the afternoon listening to 90s grunge music and maybe even get high. The majority of her summer days were spent this way with her new group of friends- The Skanks.

The Skanks initially invited her into their group when they came across her in Hot Topic browsing hair dyes. Quinn had asked Sheila for her input on what color would suit her best – lime green or hot pink. Sheila called the girls over and it was decided that, while lime green was edgy, hot pink would better suit her. They all clicked and Quinn was soon integrated in their circle. Though she hardly held anything in common with them, they were new friends that she hoped could replace the old ones. The Skanks didn't fill the vacant hole in her heart but they didn't cause further damage either. They kept her numb.

The first day of school quickly approaches and Quinn braces herself for the start of her senior year. She glides through McKinley's bustling hallways with her dark oversized sunglasses, her fading unkempt hot pink hair, her new nose ring, and her grungy unwashed clothes from the thrifty mart. Everyone stares at her in shock that the once head cheerleader, most sought after girl at school, has transformed into some sort of hipster delinquent. She smirks at her peer's reactions but doesn't crack a real smile. Come to think of it, she can't remember the last time she's genuinely smiled. She goes through her schedule on autopilot and snaps back to reality in time for lunch under the bleachers with The Skanks. By lunch, she means her afternoon cigarette and maybe some gum. She couldn't be more surprised when she saw Rachel Berry strutting her way to the bleachers.

Rachel was ultimately taken aback by Finn's kiss but, for the sake of dramatics, went along with it. She didn't feel a spark or see fireworks even though she had just shared an intimate moment with the crowd before her. Finn gazed down at her and curved the side of his lips into a smug smile. Evidently he thought more of the kiss than she did. Before she could further process what had just happened, their closing number started and she was back in performing mode. She couldn't, however, help herself from sending a look of apology towards Quinn. Part of her felt as though she had cheated on the blonde by succumbing to Finn's embrace. The other half of her told her to let it go and be grateful for Finn's attention. She cringed at that resolution but common sense told her it was the safer route. Quinn had been horrible to her before, how was she to trust that she wouldn't hurt her again?

After the performance, everything went downhill. Quinn avoided her at all costs and Santana had to be restrained from pouncing on her while she spewed curses at her in Spanish. The club was a mess and by that point no one would talk to her aside from Finn. Fate had laid a hand, she supposed. Once she returned to Lima she couldn't help but notice the awkward emptiness that filled the choir room in Qinn's absence. She immediately missed the blonde but assumed she had taken an early vacation or something. Rachel's dads sent her back to New York for the summer to attend performing arts workshops and camps so she hardly saw Finn at all before school started again.

Rachel couldn't have been more excited to start her senior year of high school and more importantly, the return of Glee club! Finn met her at her locker at the start of the day and together they walked to the choir room. They ended up being the first people there but were soon followed by Brittany and Santana (pinkies entwined) who sat behind them.

"So Rach, how was your summer? Did you miss me as much as I missed you?" Finn asked with a goofy grin.

Santana snorted from behind them.

Rachel ignored her reaction.

"It was simply marvelous! Prior to this summer I had considered my vast knowledge of theater and performing to be unrivaled but I came across a few others quite like myself and really learned a lot. I have no doubt that New York is where I belong." Rachel was beaming now.

Finn, eyes already glazed over, responded with a simple "Cool."

He honestly had no idea what his girlfriend was talking about. He often tended to zone out whenever she talked- something that didn't go unnoticed by everyone else.

He loosely draped his arm around Rachel's shoulders as the rest of the club filed into the choir room. Mr. Shue's smile faltered when he noticed three empty chairs. Before he could inquire about the absences, Puck and Mercedes explained Sam and Lauren's departures from the club. No one, however, could answer where Quinn was. She had dropped contact with everyone over the summer- even Brittany and Santana.

"We haven't seen her since school got out," Santana feigned annoyance.

"Yeah, we tried to convince her to rejoin the Cheerios and go to cheer camp with us but she refused," Brittany added.

Rachel could feel their eyes on her back. She turned around to face Santana and was met with a deadly glare. Rachel felt a wave of guilt sweep through her. She didn't want to think this was her fault but knew that she was most likely the driving force in pushing Quinn away. At least, this was the conclusion she came to after analyzing Santana's extra cold demeanor towards her. Finn was oblivious to her frustration. Rachel turned around again to face the front of the room and tried to focus on their morning practice. Try as she might, she couldn't shake the awkward feeling of Santana's relentless gaze throughout the rest of the session.

When the bell rang, Rachel hurried out of the choir room only to be followed by Brittany and Santana. Before she could get away from them, she felt a hand grip her arm and pull her into the nearest bathroom.

"Excuse me! What do you think you're doing? I have a class to get to."

Rachel was nervous. It was clear that Santana wasn't happy with her and she was well aware that the cheerleader in front of her had a short fuse and wasn't afraid of a fight. She backed into a corner and silently prayed for her life. She wasn't sure to what Santana knew about her and Quinn but she obviously knew enough to be upset with her.

"We needs to have a talk, Treasure Trail," the brunette snarled, "How are things with Finnocence?"

Rachel was taken aback by the question. Santana was getting closer to her and the confrontation was making her uncomfortable.

"He's fine…we're fine. I love him." Rachel refused to make eye-contact.

Brittany remained silent throughout the exchange- she liked to avoid confrontation at all costs. She was a lover, not a fighter. Santana understood and would always do the talking. Brittany was always there to level her out and keep her calm. They were like yin and yang and complemented each other beautifully.

Santana rolled her eyes and impatiently put her hands on her hips.

"Yeah? Who are you trying to convince- me or yourself? 'Cause I sure as hell don't believe you."

Rachel bit her lip and looked away. Santana smirked, well aware that her assumption was correct. She kept her arms crossed and didn't move from Rachel. She wasn't going to back down until she got what she wanted.

"Why are you doing this?" Rachel whispered, barely audible.

This time, Brittany was the one to speak.

"We're here to help you get the girl."

Rachel opened her mouth to protest but Santana cut in.

"Save it, Berry. You like Quinn and she likes you. Let's get Frankenteen out of the equation and you two can live happily ever after," she said dryly.

Brittany beamed at Santana's slightly sarcastic remark and skipped over to her and wrapped her arms around her waist and rested her head on the shorter girl's shoulder.

"I love your romantic side," she cooed in Santana's ear.

Santana blushed and leaned into Brittany to kiss her cheek. "Whatever."

Rachel was more confused than ever and cocked an eyebrow.

"Why are you so willing to help me?"

"Quinn's still our best friend. We miss her and just want her to be happy," Brittany gushed behind Santana.

Santana's face softened and she dropped her hostility.

"Look," she hesitated, unsure of the kindness that was about to erupt from her, "we can be here for you too. We're more alike than you think." She gestured to Brittany who was still hugging her close.

Rachel's eyes widened at Santana's confession that she and Brittany's relationship was more than just platonic. She let her guard down in the wake of Santana's own vulnerability.

"I don't know what to say. I appreciate you reaching out to me. I just don't know where to go from here. I have so many unresolved feelings and it's just so overwhelming."

"Start simple, tell her to come back to Glee then go from there," Santana suggested.

Brittany nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we tried talking to her this morning before cheer practice and she wouldn't listen to us. She'll listen to you though."

"You think so?"

"Absolutely!" Brittany was back to planning double dates in her head for them to go on.

Rachel looked at her watch and realized they were over fifteen minutes late to their second period class. Panic mode set in. Rachel Berry was never tardy and to start her senior year late to her first real class gave her anxiety. Santana sensed the diva's sudden discomfort and stepped aside so Rachel could leave.

"Good luck, Berry." Though Santana turned friendly towards Rachel, she wasn't ready to give in to a first name basis with her just yet. Baby steps.

"You aren't coming..?" Rachel stood idly in the doorway waiting for the two cheerleaders.

Brittany and Santana looked at each other and giggled.

"No thanks, I wants to get my mack on instead."

The lunch bell sounded throughout the halls of McKinley and Rachel nervously made her way out to the football field. Santana and Brittany suggested she start her search for Quinn under the bleachers. Their prediction proved to be correct.