I don't own anything.

Freshman Year...

Quinn Fabray walked through the halls of Mckinley High with an air of confidence. She was only a freshman but the students moved out of the way for her because of the cheerleading uniform she is wearing. There were people wearing santa hats all over the school. Of course Quinn would never wear one.

Once at her locker she was met by Rachel Berry waiting by her locker.

"Good morning Quinn. You look beautiful today. As always." The tiny freshman greeted the blonde.

Quinn simply rolled her eyes. Everyday she would be greeted by the biggest loser in the school in the same fashion. Then at the end of the day, Rachel would ask her out and be rejected once again. Rachel would always just smile and say she will try again tomorrow. Then she would compliment Quinn again and wish her a good day.

"What do you want Man-hands?"

The small girl tried not to seem hurt by the name. "Just wanted to know if you would like an escort to your first lesson?"

"Does it really matter what I say? You're going to follow me anyways. We have the same class." Quinn pointed out.

"You know I would never do anything you don't want me to do." Rachel told her sincerely.

"Whatever. It's the last day before winter break. Might as well carry my books." With that, the freshman cheerleader placed all of her heavy books in Rachel's arms and began to walk to her class with Rachel following close behind.

Once inside the classroom, Rachel placed the books on an empty desk and pulled the chair back.

Quinn sat down, already used to having her chair pulled out by the tiny brunette.

Rachel left to sit down at the back of the classroom with her best friend Kurt Hummel.

"Rachel when are you going to give up on her? You know she isn't interested." The pale boy said once Rachel sat down.

"I don't care if she isn't interested." Rachel said. "Besides, its not like she will have to put up with me much longer."

"I'm going to miss you." Kurt said sadly.

"Me too. I really don't want to leave but I don't really have a choice. My parents aren't changing their minds."

Before the conversation could continue, the bell rang and the teacher put a movie to watch since it was the last day before break.

During the entire period, Rachel kept stealing glances at Quinn. The cheerleader was sitting with her two best friends, Santana Lopez and Brittany Pierce. Also cheerleaders.

Once the bell rang, signaling the end of the period, everyone got up and rushed out the door. Rachel packed up her things and once she was done she noticed that most of the class had already left. With the exeption of a certain blonde cheerleader.

Quinn Fabray was still packing her backpack. The brunette walked up to her and offered to carry her books once again.

The blonde let her because she was too tired to carry them herself. Coach Sylvester had been putting the freshman cheerleaders through hell making sure they were worthy of being in her squad.

XXX

The rest of the morning passed in similar fashion. Rachel would carry Quinn's books to her class and proceed to pull her chair out since they shared the majority of their classes together. Before lunch, Rachel got a slushy facial by one of the upperclassmen and spent half of her lunch period cleaning herself off. Once school ended, both girls made their way to glee club. With their respective friends. Rachel walked in with Kurt while Quinn walked in with Santana and Brittany. Both Quinn and Santana only joined the club because Brittany had wanted to join. And everyone knows you can never say no to Brittany.

Rachel sat with Kurt in the front and discussed their plans on how they were going to keep in touch. Eventually Noah Puckerman, or Puck as everyone calls him with the exeption of Rachel, sat next to the tiny brunette.

"I can't believe you are leaving me." Puck said as her put his arm around Rachel.

"I'm sorry Noah" Rachel said as she returned his one armed hug.

"You know, you can always stay at my place. My mom wouldn't mind. She loves you." He offered.

"That's sweet of you but I don't think I will be able to be away from my fathers for such a long time."

The Jewish boy sighed and only hugged his friend tighter.

"I don't think I will be able to find another Jewish Princess as awesome as you."

"I would hope not." Rachel said. "I will make sure to come back. And when I do, I don't want anyone taking my title." she smiled up at her friend and got one in return.

Rachel looked towards Quinn and her smile faded a little. Puck followed her line of sight and nudged her a little to get her attention.

"Have you told Quinn?"

The brunette shook her head. "No, you know she wouldn't care."

XXX

Quinn sat at the back of the choir room watching as everyone sang Christmas songs. She would join in on the group numbers when Brittany pulled her up on her feet and danced. The energy the club had made the hour full of laughter and fun.

Once it was over, she watched as they all said their 'goodbyes' and 'happy holidays' to each other. She noticed how everyone seemed to hug Rachel longer than any other person. Kurt had tears in his eyes while Puck seemed to 'have something in his eye' that caused his eyes to get watery.

She left the room and walked to her locker. Santana and Brittany accompanied her. After putting her books into her locker, Rachel came and cleared her throat.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but can I have a word with you Quinn?"

"Well, Q, seems like we will be going. Have fun with Rupaul. C'mon B." Santana took Brittany's hand and led her down the hall while Quinn glared at the back of her head for leaving her alone with Rachel.

"If they are not together by Senior year, I will personally get them together." Rachel vowed.

The blonde scoffed. There was a silence in which Rachel was looking down at her shoes and fiddling with the hem on her sweater.

"What did you want Berry? I can't waste my time listening to you tell me how beautiful you think I am or asking me out. Let alone not talk at all. I have a ride to catch."

The brunette in question took a deep breath and glanced up at the blonde.

"You know, one of these days I'm not going to be here to be able to tell you how beautiful you are."

"And one of these days, I'm going to be queen of this school. I will be the most popular girl in school, have a lot of friends, get invited to all of the parties, and date the quarter back of the football team. I don't need you telling me these things because in the future, I will have everything. But you, you will still be the school's loser with no friends. You will get slushied everyday until the day you graduate." When Quinn was done talking, Rachel simply just nodded and took a step back.

"With beauty as pure as yours, I have no doubt you will become the queen of the school. I hope you find the happiness you deserve." With one final sad smile, Rachel turns on her heel and walks down the hall. Quinn watched her leave for a couple of seconds before closing her locker and walking in the other direction, towards the school entrance.

XXX

Santana and Brittany have yet to leave the school. Santana is currently putting her things into her locker, not planning on taking anything home for the holidays. She looks to her left and watches as her innocent friend struggles to put all of her books into the small space of her locker. The Latina smiles before helping her friend put her books neatly away. As soon as they close their lockers, Santana is shoved to the side and almost loses her balance if it weren't for Brittany. The tall blonde wraps her arms around Santana's waist to prevent her from falling over. Santana looks around, still not stepping away from her blonde friend, and finds the source to why she was shoved to the side.

"What the Hell Berry? Wait until I go Lima Heights on your ass."

"I am so sorry Santana. I wasn't looking where I was going- Oh look, Whats that?" Rachel quickly pointed up above their heads and made a run for it. Santana didn't fall for it. She just watched the small girl run down the hall.

"Santana, what is that?" Brittany had fallen for Rachel's little trick and looked up to where Rachel pointed.

The Latina looked at her friend and saw that she had her gaze focused above their heads. Santana looked up and her eyes widened. Right above them was something that shouldn't have been there.

"Its a... Its a mistletoe Britt."

The blonde looked down at her best friend an they locked eyes. Slowly she inched forward and it seemed that Santana knew what was going to happen because she closed her eyes. Brittany closed her own eyes and gently pressed her lips to the Latinas.

Rachel watched the scene unfold from her hiding spot in the shadows. Satisfied that her time before school putting up that mistletoe was worth it. Then her eyes widened when she saw Sue Sylvester walking down the hall, towards them. Megaphone in hand.

Santana was so lost into the kiss that she didn't hear the footsteps getting closer. She reached her hand up to gently cup Brittany's face. She was broken out of her trance when she heard a loud Splash!

She pulled back and saw the Megaphone and a flash of a red tracksuit around the corner. Both girls held their breath when they realized who it was that almost caught them.

"Hey you! Get back here! You cannot just throw a water balloon at my back and expect to go unpunished! I will make you pay!" They heard the voice and the footsteps disappear. They both released their breath and looked at each other.

"C'mon Britt, lets go home" Santana took a hold of Brittany's hand and let her out of the school. Both girls knowing that their relationship will not be as simple as it once was.

XXX

Three weeks later...

Quinn Fabray walked into the school the first day back from break and immediately something felt different.

She made her way to her locker and felt that something was missing.

"Hey Q. Where's your little puppy. She's usually here trying to woo you." Santana said walking up to her with Brittany linked by her pinky.

Berry. That's what was missing.

"I don't know. I'm just glad she isn't here bothering me."

She opened her locker and she found a neatly wrapped present sitting on top of her school books. The gold bow and red wrapping paper seemingly perfect. Next to it was a folded up red paper.

She picked up the paper and unfolded it.

The gold ink stood out against the red paper.

Quinn,

I wanted to make sure you opened this present after break. After I had already left.

Which is why I kinda broke into the school and into you locker.

Sorry about that by the way.

I was going to give this to you face-to-face but a couple of things came up.

I have a feeling you will like the present.

I hope to someday be able to see the world through your eyes.

I will come back.

-Rachel Berry

P.S. Remember that you are beautiful. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise.

Quinn put the note down and picked up the box. She carefully tore the paper and opened the box. She gasped and picked up the camera. She inspected it and immediately fell in love with it. It was perfect. She put it up to her face and adjusted the lens a little. She aimed the camera at Santana looking at Brittany with a loving gaze and snapped a picture. The pair didn't seem to notice because they kept staring at each other.

Quinn put the camera back into the box and wiped the single tear that escaped her eye.

XXX

Senior Year...

Rachel slung her backpack over her shoulder and left through the door. She made her way downstairs to the Diner for breakfast.

"Hey Kiddo" The owner, Jack, greeted from behind the counter.

"Hey Jack" She set her backpack on an empty stool while she sat on another one.

"Pancakes?"

"Chocolate chip please" Rachel replied

"Ready for your first day of school?" Jack asked when he set the place down in front of Rachel.

"As ready as I will ever be"

"C'mon now, have some confidence."

"I lost contact will everyone here. For all I know, they hate me."

"You left years ago, trying to keep long distance friendships is hard."

"I know but... I fell like I let them down. I could have tried harder to keep in touch. I have no idea what happened to my best friends. Today will be the first time I will see them in three years."

"That's why you came back right?" Jack asked.

"It's one of the many reasons." Rachel says immediately thinking of a certain blonde.

By now Rachel finished the pancakes and got up to leave.

"I'll see you later Jack." Rachel said as she put some money on the counter.

"Whoa Rachel get back here" The brunette obediently walked back to the counter.

Jack picked up the money from the counter and gave it back to a reluctant Rachel. "We have a deal. You pay the rent to the second floor of this building and I provide you with food whenever you want. Your fathers already pay me way too much to rent out that space for you. The least I can do is give you free food when you're hungry."

Rachel smiled at the man "Thanks uncle Jack"

"You're welcome kiddo. Now get out of here. You have classes to attend to."

XXX

When Rachel stepped into Mckinley, she was met with many curious glances. She made her way to the office and was welcomed back by the nice secretary. After she got her schedule, she walked out of the office and towards her locker. It was a different one than the one from freshman year. They must have given it to some other student.

She looked down at her schedule and began walking to her class.

She bumped into someone rounding the corner, causing their books to fall to the ground.

Rachel apologized and immediately bent down to pick up the fallen books.

"Berry?"

Rachel looked up and locked eyes with the girl in the cheerleading uniform.

Rachel gulped because she wasn't sure what to say or how the other girl would react to her return.

"Um... hi"

Review and let me know what you think. PM me if y'all have any suggestions.

I already have most of this story planned out but I would love to include some other ideas.

This chapter jumps through time a lot but it will slow down next chapter.