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Rachel Berry was a loser. It was proven by basically all of McKinley High, and the slushies she kisses everyday proves it too. After a little too long, Rachel finally cracked. She was tired of everything. The looks, the laughs, the shoves, the confrontations, everything . She needed a makeover. Now, Rachel knew she was pretty. Even with the animal sweaters or knee socks, Rachel knew she was pretty and didn’t need anyone else to tell her differently. But, now seeing herself throw another ugly animal sweater in the trash after it was ruined by a slushy, Rachel went out to go shop for more clothes. More seductive clothes. She needed clothes that showed off the most skin and clothes that would tell everyone that Rachel Berry is better and prettier than you ! Of course, it was only going to be for one day, but that’s all she needed to feel good about herself in school. Rachel pulled up to the mall and went into the first store that screamed ‘sexy’. Unfortunately, luck was not on her side and she made direct eye contact with the one and only; Quinn Fabray. Quinn was not alone either, Santana Lopez was with her and browsing clothes behind Quinn. Quinn was looking straight at Rachel, however. Quinn and Rachel haven’t gotten along since freshman year, with Quinn being a Cheerio and Rachel being McKinley’s resident loser, they weren’t supposed to either. Quinn had always admired Rachel’s singing voice but often found herself rolling her eyes at the brunette’s attitude and personality. Rachel broke away from their staring contest and decided to go to the other side of the store, hopefully then Quinn and Santana will leave her alone.
“Was that Berry?” Santana questions, eyes following the retreating girl. Quinn nods absentmindedly and narrows her eyes.
“What is she even doing here? Shouldn’t she be shopping at Claire's?” Quinn knew her question was rude but the girl was genuinely curious as to why Rachel was headed straight for the dress area in the store.
“Maybe she’s finally deciding to change her style?” Santana supplied.
“Hold on, I’ll be back.” Santana laughs and mumbles something about finally making a move on Berry. Quinn rolls her eyes and follows Rachel into the aisle.
“Fancy seeing you here, Berry.” Quinn starts, standing next to the now tensed girl.
“Hello, Quinn.”
“What are you doing here? This isn’t where you would normally shop.”
Rachel chuckles humorlessly. “Not that you care, but I’m here to get more clothes that will hopefully stop me getting slushied.” Quinn’s eyes immediately soften. Realizing the girl wanted to change her appearance so people would notice her broke the blonde’s heart.
Quinn cleared her throat and thoughts, “Get that one.” She points to the black dress.
Rachel nods and picks it up.
“Can I come with you to the dressing room? I’m not gonna do something mean or anything or see you in the dress, I just wanted to talk to you. It’s okay if you-”
“Stop rambling. Come on.” Quinn blushes and follows Rachel to the fitting rooms. Rachel turns around and quirks an eyebrow.
“What did you want to talk about?”
Quinn blinks furiously and clears her throat, “Right, I just wanted to say, you know you don’t have to change your appearance so the bullying will stop right? I mean, yeah maybe it’ll stop Santana from making fun of you, but Rachel you’re a beautiful girl. I know I may not show it at school, but you’re really pretty. I just think you should stay yourself. I know you won’t be comfortable in those clothes rather than your animal sweaters. You don’t need to change yourself just to please others. You have better friends than I do, you know? Maybe Kurt and Mercedes criticize you but if you look at them when they talk about you, you can see that they adore you a lot. I’m just saying that you might look smoking hot in that dress, you don’t need to wear it solely to impress the ugly jocks on the football team, okay? You’re beautiful just the way you are, animal sweater or not.” Quinn breathes out in, impressively one breath. Rachel tilts her head in confusion.
“Wow. Uh, thank you? I mean we don’t really talk but I really appreciate that, I think. But, I’m not doing this just for the jocks or for the looks. I’m doing this for myself and would appreciate it if you respected me for that. I need respect around at school and it’s frustrating when I don’t get any.” Rachel nods to the clerk who gave her the sign to put outside the vacant dressing room.
Quinn sighs. “I know I haven’t been the nicest to you, but changing your appearance just for other people is something I’ve been through okay? Please know it’s not worth it. But if you want to, I’m here for you and will be with you at school tomorrow. I’ll try to tell Karofsky to not-”
“Quinn, stop. I get that you care about me now, but the point is just for everyone to treat tomorrow like a normal school day okay? I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Quinn sighs and nods. She leaves a very confused Rachel in the fitting room.
***
Rachel walked into McKinley High with as much confidence as she could. She spent the entire night thinking about Quinn Fabray. Everything about her confused Rachel, especially the new fluttering sensation that filled throughout the singer’s body. There was no way Rachel Berry was feeling stuff for Quinn Fabray. She takes a deep breath and enters the school. All eyes were on her. She meets Kurt and Mercedes' amazed eyes and nods to them. Finn Hudson catches up to her and she jumps.
“Rachel, hey. Uh, do you need my jacket? You look-” She rolls her eyes at Finn, not interested at all.
“Hey, Finn. No, I do not need your jacket, thank you thou-”
“Rachel, I think you-”
“She said no, Finnept.” Santana interrupts them, walking alongside a now extremely confused Rachel.
“Sorry, Berry, your girlfriend wanted me to check up on you.”
“Quinn is not my girlfriend-”
“Whatever, how’re you feeling?”
Rachel is about to respond when she feels a random jock who she doesn’t know, graze the skin right above her breast.
“Get off of me!” She shrieks. Fortunately, Santana is already in front of Rachel, protecting her from the jock.
“I’ll report you right now if you don’t leave her the fuck alone.” The jock laughs and strolls away. Rachel tries to ignore the tears welling up and continues her walk, letting Santana leave her alone. She finally makes eye contact with a smirking Quinn. Quinn casually strolls up to Rachel.
“How are you feeling, sexy Rachel?” Rachel rolls her eyes at the comment.
“Not good, some random person just groped me and I feel really uncomfortable.”
Quinn sighs and drags Rachel to the nearest bathroom. The girls in there scatter out when they see Quinn in all her glory.
“Take it off.”
Rachel sputters, “W-What?”
“Your dress. I have clothes for you.”
“How’d you kn-”
“Berry, just take off the goddamn dress. You look hot, but I knew you were gonna get uncomfortable here, all the boys are just pervs. Especially Finn, I swear he was chanting ‘mailman’ when he saw you.” She fake gags and pushes Rachel into the handicapped stall. She threw clothes over the stall door. Rachel inspected the clothes, wondering how Quinn got a tank top with a bunny sewed on and sweatpants that quickly from her bag. The clothes in her hand felt like something she would wear at home, which made the brunette girl wonder whether these are her clothes.
“Rach?”
“Yeah, hold on.” Rachel ignores the warmth flooding her body at the nickname and changes out of her clothes.
Rachel opened the stall door and saw Quinn smiling with her Cheerio’s bag. She takes her Cheerios letterman out and hands it to the girl.
“Just in case you get cold.” Quinn winked. Rachel blushes and mumbles a thank you. She puts the jacket on and is flooded by Quinn’s vanilla scent. Rachel snuggles more into the jacket and meets Quinn’s softened eyes.
“It looks cute on you, you should wear it more.”
“Are you trying to woo me, Quinn?” Quinn smiles, which causes Rachel’s body to flutter.
“Maybe.” The blonde shrugs. Quinn offers her arm to Rachel.
“How chivalrous.” Rachel says, but takes the girl’s arm.
“So, you, me, this Friday, my house?” Quinn says in a voice that Rachel assumes is supposed to be a fuckboy in the movies. She giggles and walks down the hall with Quinn, ignoring the stares.
“Sure.” She presses a kiss to the blonde’s cheek and leaves for her first period. Quinn stands there dumbly, fingers touching the cheek that was blessed by Rachel’s lips.
“Move your gay ass, Fabray, I’m trying to get to class.” Santana breaks Quinn out of her very not appropriate thoughts.
“I am so gay.”
“We know!”