Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, Glee, or the song lyrics in this story.

A/N: I really wanted to get this posted because I was excited about it! So all mistakes are mine, and I really hope you enjoy!

What is This Feeling?

"Okay, guys! It's time to perform your duets. Any volunteers to go first?" Mr. Shuester smiled expectantly at the teenagers that filled the Glee club's risers.

His smile faltered when nobody raised their hands. Quickly, he looked to Rachel hoping that she would live up to her reputation of always wanting to steal the show.

The said brunette huffed and looked away; she didn't want to be Mr. Shue's safety net, not today. She was agitated, antsy, and more wound up than she had ever been before – not even one of her perfectly executed diva storm-outs would satisfy the ever-growing, annoying, tension that was currently passing through every single one of her neurons.

Rachel thought that Mr. Shuester seemed to not be able to take a hint because his stupid voice reached through her ears to her annoyed and achy brain in the most annoying tone saying, "Rachel, how about you and your partner go first?"

A deliberate elongated sigh resounded from Rachel's lips, earning surprised looks from the rest of the group, as she reluctantly straightened in her chair. "With all due respect, Mr. Shue," she practically spat, "I would like to decline your invitation to go first. I am more than positive that any of my fellow peers would make a more suitable first choice, than I would – in only instances such as these, of course."

With his typical confused look, the teacher eyed Rachel as if she had just declined an offer to play lead, front and center, in a Broadway show tomorrow morning.

Barely refraining from rolling her eyes, Rachel crossed her arms and looked back at the empty spot on the wall she had become so keen at staring at during today's session.

She clenched her jaw as Mr. Shue persisted, "well, I think your partner gets a say in it too, Rachel."

"It's fine. I'd rather not go first, either."

Rachel's jaw clenched harder and she squirmed in her seat as a new flood of agitation and heat surged through her. She hated that the soft, yet firm, voice of Quinn Fabray - actually agreeing with her for that matter - had this kind of effect over her.

She was just so done. She was finished with feeling like this.

The entire week she felt this agitation slowly building, as she and Quinn began rehearsing for their duet. Well, not so much rehearsing as, arguing over which song they should sing. Rachel wanted something classic that suited both of their voices and Quinn just really wanted to get on Rachel's nerves; at least, that is what Rachel thought. Quinn honestly didn't know why she would oppose every sheet of music Rachel handed her – maybe she wanted a newer song or maybe she just didn't know how else to act around Rachel.

For years their relationship was just bantering back and forth. Well, more so Quinn being the one to banter and Rachel just happening to be there when Quinn needed release.

Quinn knew that Rachel wanted to be her friend.

Quinn knew that there was no real reason for her to treat the brunette the way she occasionally would; except maybe the fact she stole her boyfriend, but she knew that she honestly just didn't care about that – it was just another excuse she could continue on with her banter.

It was just that every time she was around Rachel an indescribable feeling would course through her veins and spread throughout her entirety. It would mount in her chest and expand and expand, but it would never just go. She had to get the jittery feeling in her veins to go, so she did what she thought was her only form of release – she yelled; insulted others... insulted Rachel.

Yet, somehow, Rachel still always cared. It drove Quinn mad with restlessness and unease after every encounter with the shorter girl. Every single time there was an annoying energy flooding her body that she just had to get out. She usually solved it by going on runs as quickly after the encounter as she could. She would run until her muscles screamed at her that they needed rest, and even then she wouldn't stop. Every breath would burn her lungs and the sweat that rolled from her forehead would sting at her eyes. Her legs would run, run, run, until the only feeling that was left was the pain of her overworked muscles – effectively making her brain shutoff for sleep and rest.

The week she had spent over at Rachel's house preparing for their duet did not help her situation. It started at a moderately normal level – only feeling a bit jittery - on the Monday evening when she had arrived at that the Berry household and knocked on the front door.

The feeling that she knew so well, but had no idea what it was, coursed through her as Rachel opened the door looking up at her with her trademark "I'll be a star on Broadway one day" smile.

Quinn was determined to make it through this night without getting angry at the brunette. She was here for school work, and she was going to get it done; but that damn annoying smile was already making her legs and arms feel like shocking electricity that needed to be released.

Steeling herself, she took a deep breath and smiled back, praying to God that it didn't come across as a grimace.

Rachel wasn't doing so well either, she had spent the entire time before Quinn's first arrival making sure that everything was in order for the blonde and that she would be comfortable. As much as she tried not to, she cared about the blonde. She wanted Quinn to feel welcomed – she was even secretly hoping that this assignment would be able to make Quinn see past their differences and give them a real shot at being friends.

Or, something. Rachel wasn't really certain if they could make it that far, but she wanted to. She could see that Quinn was lonely and that behind her façade, there was a broken girl searching for her own way in life. The self-proclaimed diva wanted to be Quinn's friend and help her find that path in life that she was so desperately searching for.

Rachel knew that Quinn hid her fears behind anger; she knew that she needed release from all the stress in her life – that was why Rachel was always there for the other girl. That was why she helped her even if Quinn would call her names or hurt her feelings. She believed that Quinn didn't mean those things towards her, but after the week they had, had she wasn't quite so sure anymore.

As the week wore on each girl had the inexpressible tension building within them. Every time their hands would accidentally brush when passing a paper, an annoying spark would ignite Quinn's anger. Rachel tried to brush it off, but every time something happened – like the time Rachel actually made Quinn laugh, and Quinn's eyes immediately filled with fiery fury, or when they accidentally fell asleep late in the evening and somehow managed to wake up with Quinn's head on Rachel's lap, and Quinn jumped up as if she had been burned and left for home immediately without so much as a goodbye – Rachel would find herself becoming more and more agitated. Was she really that repulsive that Quinn couldn't even stand to touch her – be near her for more than absolutely necessary?

Every time they made progress, it was immediately rendered worthless because Quinn would run five steps back.

Rachel didn't know what she did wrong. She did everything she could to make the blonde comfortable; she fluffed pillows, made music selections she thought Quinn would appreciate, and made homemade snacks and drinks – non-vegan ones at that - for the blonde.

If Rachel were to ask Quinn, however, what she was doing wrong, the hazel eyed girl just wouldn't know how to respond. Not even she knew what the problem was, and deep down inside she really wanted to fix it. As much as she wanted to act as if she was made of steel and wasn't lonely, she wanted a friend like Rachel.

It was just that stupid, annoying, dog-darn, feeling that made Quinn's brain go haywire. It slammed against the wall of her chest and pulsed through her legs like waves crashing on a rocky beach over and over and over, and she needed it to go.

Sometimes she let herself ponder this, even if just for a small amount of time. She really did want to be Rachel's friend, but every time she was around her she became angry. Maybe it was that she wasn't angry with Rachel, but irritated with that infuriating feeling.

However, she never let herself dwell too long on thoughts like those – they were much too stressful and messy and, and… annoying.

Through the entire week they spent rehearsing the cycle would continue. Quinn would steel herself to not leave early, on her way to the smaller girl's house while said girl began preparing said house. Quinn would get the restless feeling in her legs as she rang the doorbell and Rachel would have shaky fingers whenever she turned the doorknob. Quinn would realize she was having a nice time and the agitation in her chest would be right on the edge of combusting but never would and Rachel would receive a scorching glare only to be left to her own devices of figuring things out.

And while Rachel doubted that they would ever be fully prepared to perform the song they had finally agreed on to her standards, she was proud to admit that they would be able to get by with an above average performance.

So, when Quinn agreed with Rachel to not perform – after the many times Quinn had refused to ever compromise – Rachel's agitation flooded over.

"Actually, Mr. Shue, why not? I suppose it would be better to get this out of the way."

Before Quinn could retaliate, Rachel shot up from her seat and grabbed Quinn's hand in her own. She ignored the annoying feeling that coursed through her arm, and Quinn stupidly glared at their intertwined hands – which only turned to agitate the smaller girl more. She pulled Quinn to the front, pointed to the band to get ready to play the music she had previously given them, and just switched the first two lines of the song so that Quinn wouldn't have the chance to stop her.

"My dear father…" Rachel began, finally letting the happiness of performing wash over her. She could feel Quinn's incredulous eyes watching her, as well as basically everyone else from her earlier behavior, but honestly she didn't care. Her agitation was conflicting with the happiness performing gave her, but instead of letting it ruin her performance, she was going to let it drive it. All of her tension would roll out perfectly into her performance – she was letting it go with all the force of an uncoiling spring.

They stood on opposite ends in front of the risers, Rachel looking at their fellow Glee clubbers as if they were an audience and she was on stage, and Quinn continuing to watch the brunette. Quinn wavered for a few moments before steadying her voice and looking down as if writing a letter, "Dearest darlingest Momsie and Popsical..."

They began their melodious tune and the band followed, "There's been some confusion over rooming here at Shiz."

"But of course I'll care for Nessa," Rachel sang softly as she acted to write as well.

"But of course, I'll rise above it," Quinn harmonized, actually happy that Rachel had rearranged the song to better suit her alto singing voice.

"For I know that's how you'd want me to respond, yes. There's been some confusion for you see my roommate is..." The two looked around the room, as if searching for the words to describe the other.

"Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe..." The blonde smiled to herself at how the lyrics suited Rachel, without even realizing it, and despite herself, let out a soft laugh as full-out performance Rachel cocked a hand on her hip and belted out, "BLONDE," with an faux-exasperated look on her face.

"What is this feeling, so sudden, and new?" Quinn and Rachel turned towards each other and slowly made their way across to one another.

"I felt the moment I laid eyes on you." Rachel pointed her finger in Quinn's chest, and Quinn placed two fingers on her neck's pulse point, "My pulse is rushing."

"My head is reeling"

"My face is flushing."

Again they joined together, "what is this feeling? Fervid as a flame, does it have a name? Yes..."

And then suddenly, Quinn realized that she was enjoying this and that Rachel's finger was still definitely on the spot that always feels like it's about to cave in. She felt her demeanor shift and her eyes start to blaze as she pushed the other girls hand down.

Rachel noticed the intensity in Quinn's eyes but, she wasn't about to let a performance fall. They were going to put their agitation with each other into full force for this song. She put all her annoyance in her stare back at Quinn as they sang together,

"Loathing! Unadulterated loathing!"

They got closer, almost face to face, with the anger of – of w-what? Quinn didn't know, Rachel didn't know, but something, burning in their eyes

"For your face," Quinn nodding her head menacingly towards Rachel.

"Your voice," the brunette sang powerfully.

"Your clothing!" Quinn gesticulated at Rachel's purple owl sweater.

They looked at each other and rose their voices higher, "let's just say- I loath it all!" They turned their backs on one another and began moving around the room. What they were doing now wasn't a part of the choreography, but was as if they were singing their real feelings into the song, letting their bodies guide them around without a thought.

"Every little trait how ever small makes my very flesh begin to crawl with simple utter loathing! There's a strange exhilaration."

Rachel rolled her eyes at Quinn, as the blonde began circling her, "in such total detestation. It's so pure, so strong! Though I do admit, it came on fast; still I do believe that it can last."

They looked at each other heatedly, "and I will be loathing, loathing you my whole life long."

When arranging the song they cut out the part when the other singers, replacing it with some instrumental music instead. As the music surrounded them, it was as if they weren't in Glee club. It felt to them that they were the only ones, and as the flames grew in their dark eyes they continued on in the song powerfully with as much emotion as they could muster,

"What is this feeling, so sudden and new?

I felt the moment I laid eyes on you.

My pulse is rushing, my head is reeling.

Oh, what is this feeling?!

Does it have a name? Yes, ahhhhh... loathing!"

By now, they were in each others faces singing as loudly as they could without screaming,

"There's a strange exhilaration, in such total detestation, it's so pure, so strong!

Though I do admit, it came on fast, still I do believe that it can last!"

Nose to nose, their bodies were close enough to feel the heat radiating off the other as they sang, "and I will be loathing for forever, loathing, truly deeply loathing you, my whole life long!"

They stared into each others eyes with such intensity, "loathing!"

Suddenly they are free. The tightness in Quinn's chest explodes, and the tingles that flow through Rachel's body shoot off like fireworks from her head to her toes. Quinn feels the constant annoying feeling transform into a feeling of pure euphoria, and she no longer feels the need to run. The tension and restlessness that both girls feel finally bursts and changes into an entire new being of an unexplainable feeling, but this time it isn't bad, it's – it's… pure astonishing, astounding, amazing relief.

They are no longer wound up in unexplainable tension and hatred; relief and calmness flood over them, as if they finally found the eye of the storm; the center of the problem – the problem being that there was no real problem at all except that they didn't know how to even recognize the situation.

The next thing that really registers in their minds besides an insane calmness is that Quinn's soft hands are cupping both of Rachel's cheeks and their lips are pressed together firmly as though their life depended on it. Their lips didn't move together, mostly out of shock as they come to, but still they kept them pressed together until they couldn't seem to get enough air through their nostrils.

Rachel's eyes flutter open first, looking at Quinn's furrowed brow. She doesn't register Puck's catcall, the sound of Finn kicking over a chair and storming out, Mr. Shuester's awkward cough, Santana's "fucking finally," or the random mutterings of the rest of the club.

All she registers is Quinn's eyes as they flutter open, immediately seeking out her own eyes. There is no longer an intense fire burning in their eyes, but a soft, open, vulnerable stare into one another's eyes.

A smile slowly spreads on Rachel's face, but it's not a smile Quinn has ever seen before. Her eyes take it in, afraid that she may never be lucky enough to view it a second time.

"Boo," Rachel says quietly in a whisper for only Quinn's ears to hear, officially finishing off the song. She still had that same smile that was making Quinn's heart swell. Usually, that would make Quinn put her walls up and want to run, but this time... She already had her release. The multiple mile runs never got rid of her tension. Similarly, for Rachel, she could never find a way to release the ever building tension she got around Quinn.

But now, they had found it. They were each other's release. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Quinn knew that she should be freaking out. In Rachel's mind she knew that she wanted to ask a lot of questions, and this was only the beginning of a long treacherous series of battles life would throw at them – if "them" was even a term they would begin using; but for now, the two of them were quietly reveling in the aftershocks of such a simple, yet powerful, mind blowing, releasing, kiss.

Mr. Shue coughed again, louder this time, and suddenly it seemed as if the two girls remembered where they were. Their eyes widened comically and they turned back to face the other kids.

"That was so hot," Puck said with a shit-eating grin.

"That was unexpected," Artie muttered.

"Unexpected? They were having eye sex the entire time," Santana retorted with a sardonic laugh.

Quinn blushed to the tips of her ears, but Rachel discreetly grabbed her hand. The blonde smiled and looked down at their entwined fingers; they no longer stressed to get away. They no longer felt like they were on fire. Now they were just comfortably warm and tucked away between Rachel's fingers in a way that made her feel safe.

They both knew they were going to have a lot to talk about, but as the class began filing out of the room when the bell to go home rang, they just softly reconnected their lips.

The calm rushed through them in a strange way as fireworks exploding behind their eyelids.

"Wow," Quinn breathed quietly, "That was… god that was…" Rachel giggled quietly at Quinn's flushed appearance and speechlessness.

"I-I hope you're okay with this," Quinn started, "I-I m-mean, uhm, I-I know this was so unexpected and I don't know if I'm entirely okay with this I-I mean you, you make me feel better, like, so much better. I mean, uhm, usually when I'm around you I get all tense and wound up like I'm about to explode and I get really angry trying to get all that tension out of me, and and, like, so, then I'm a bitch, oh my god, I'm so sorry, I-I fuck I god, Rachel, I you made all that tension go away and I-I"

Her Rachel Berry worth ramble was cut off by a soft pair of lips against hers, effectively making her brain short circuit from even being able to form coherent words.

"Quinn," Rachel whispered softly, "we have a lot to talk about, and a lot to think about. I don't know where this will go, but I do know that with how that kiss made everything seem… okay, I hope that it goes forward. We will go one day at a time, and I won't push you for anything you aren't ready for."

Quinn nodded and played with her fingers, "I don't know if I'll be ready for anything.. I just know that all my a-anger flooded out of me when I k-kissed you."

A soft hand layed itself over Quinn's and Rachel smiled at Quinn's cute nervousness, "hey. One day at a time."

Quinn slowly nodded and then smiled softly at Rachel, "one day at a time."