Quinn walked down the quiet hallway. Her hands tucked warmly in the pockets of her sweater. She didn't know why she was so desperate to talk. She felt like she'd be set free somehow. Maybe if she could just talk about it, she wouldn't think about it as much. She reached the classroom where the God Squad held their weekly meetings. She peaked through the window in the door. I can do this. I should do this.

She slowly turned the knob and pulled the door open. There was only one person in the room: one person she trusted more than anyone with the information she was about to divulge; one person who wouldn't judge her; one person who took her in when her lies were found out and she'd made a mess of everything.

"Hey, girl!" Mercedes beamed at Quinn.

"Hey…are you busy? I don't wanna bother you…"

"Oh please, it's just homework. This is the only place quiet enough for me to get it done," she smiled. Quinn already felt warmer and more confident in her presence. "What's up? You ok?"

"Yeah!" she lied. "I just…I need to talk to someone. Actually, I need to talk to you. You're the first person that came to my mind. Do you have a minute?" asked Quinn

"Of course. Come on over here," she said as she pulled up a chair next to her and motioned for Quinn to approach. "Speak your mind."

Quinn sat quietly for a moment, her hands neatly folded on her lap. Where do I even begin? she thought to herself. "Well, essentially, it's a confession." She paused and thought about how to proceed. Before she could go on, Mercedes spoke.

"Listen, I ain't a priest. I won't ever tell you that you're doing something wrong. You're my friend, Quinn and I'm honored you've come to me with whatever's weighing you down. But really, all you gotta do is talk. It's just us." The sincerity in her voice gushed through every pore in her body. Quinn felt the urge to wrap her arms around her friend. But even though Mercedes meant what she said, she was still human.

"I'm in love. I'm in love Mercedes, and whoever you think it is, it's not them. I know the last few months have been completely unlike anything I've ever been through. Even last year, what with giving up Beth and just bouncing from boy to boy, even torturing people I considered to be beneath me, I've fallen in love and it's for real. I can't keep it to myself anymore. I needed to tell you because I've been holding it in for a really long time." Once Quinn finished, she let out a long sigh. There was a quiet calm that settled over the room and Quinn had no idea what Mercedes was thinking. She had come this far; obviously, she now had to tell her who this person was.

"It's Rachel…isn't it?" Mercedes questioned in a small voice.

"I…what?" asked a perplexed Quinn. "How…I don't understand. How did you know?"

"Girl, come on now. You really didn't expect that to go unnoticed forever, right? The only one who seems oblivious to it is Rachel!" giggled Mercedes.

"So…everyone knows?"

"Well, I'm sure Finn knows…he just doesn't know, know. I've been callin' it for a while actually. But I wasn't gonna say anything. It's not my place and until you sorted it out and came clean with it, I just had to sit silently and watch."

"Mercedes…I…I don't know what to do. I can't just tell her…"

"Why not? I know it's not exactly 'moral,' but she's not married yet, Quinn. And you've spent a lot of time battling this within yourself. It wasn't an issue until you realized you can't get over her. You didn't know how much you missed her until you came to the conclusion that she'd never be yours. I know that feeling. I really do, baby girl."

"Is that how it is with Sam?" Quinn asked in a near whisper.

"Yeah…yeah, it is," she smiled. "Come here, baby." Mercedes held out her arms and Quinn gladly embraced her. A wave of security washed over her. She always had a friend in Mercedes, but this meant more to her than she could ever express. The weight of Quinn's love for Rachel was immense and the ability to release it was a blessing. The love Quinn had for Mercedes was indescribable. She was there when no one else was. She was there when Beth was born, when she had no home, and now, when she confessed her love for Rachel. She knew this was a friendship that neither of them took lightly; and they never would. Now, how to tell Rachel.